Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Any of various Protestant denominations, especially those arising out of the Anabaptist and Pietist movements in Central Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Plural of
brother . See phrases under brother.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun pl. of
brother .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun archaic Plural form of
brother . - noun figuratively the body of members, especially of a fraternal, religious or military order
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun (plural) the lay members of a male religious order
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word brethren.
Examples
-
And just as the economic principles of the trust are being applied to religious organizations, even so the stronger ethical principles that are moving the nations are inducing Christian white men to come nearer to their brethren in black, and to treat them more as _men_, _brethren_, than has ever been done before.
Twentieth Century Negro Literature Or, A Cyclopedia of Thought on the Vital Topics Relating to the American Negro Daniel Wallace [Editor] Culp
-
Many similar historical testimonies now lying before me to the humble equality of the New Testament ministry could be added; but lest the reader become weary, I will conclude with the following beautiful description from D'Aubigne in his noted History of the Reformation: "The church was in the beginning a community of brethren, guided by a few of the _brethren_."
-
Perhaps Mr. Martin thinks that regulating the prices and service offerings of Comcast and Verizon and their brethren is a good way to get them to invest billions in next-generation networks.
Cable Industry to F.C.C.: Don’t Ask About Our Rates - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com 2008
-
Charity to the souls of our brethren is the best charity.
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation) 1721
-
The group, like their label brethren the O'Jay's, benefited from Kenneth Gamble's interest in having strong patriarchal voices parlay his lyrics of Black pride and self-determination.
PopMatters Mark Anthony Neal 2010
-
Yet the gap between the Falcons and the majority of their conference brethren is large.
-
All I ask from my religious brethren is this: Even as you oppose gay relationships because of your beliefs, please be tortured by your opposition.
My Jewish Perspective on Homosexuality Shmuley Boteach 2010
-
Q: I was struck by the quote from St. Francis that your neighbors put up on your barn: Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough.
A Conversation with Sy Montgomery, author of The Good Good Pig 2010
-
Or getting Guns N 'Roses back together (this would make me and by brethren from the 80's very happy).
Michael N. Smith: A Reluctant Staff Michael N. Smith 2010
-
Or getting Guns N 'Roses back together (this would make me and by brethren from the 80's very happy).
Michael N. Smith: A Reluctant Staff Michael N. Smith 2010
sionnach commented on the word brethren
Kind of like cistern, only male.
April 3, 2008
pterodactyl commented on the word brethren
Sionnach, you've just set me giggling, and I'm afraid I might not stop for some time.
Hee hee hee!
April 4, 2008