Adjacent Words

Brethren definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

BRETH'REN, n. plu. of brother. It is used almost exclusively in solemn and scriptural language,in the place of brothers. [See Brother.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (plural) the lay members of a male religious order

Merriam Webster's

Date: before 12th century plural of brother — used chiefly in formal or solemn address or in referring to the members of a profession, society, or sect

Merriam Webster's

noun plural Date: 1822 members of various sects originating chiefly in 18th century German Pietism; especially dunkers

Oxford Reference Dictionary

see BROTHER.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Plymouth Brethren Plym"outh Breth"ren The members of a religious sect which first appeared at Plymouth, England, about 1830. They protest against sectarianism, and reject all official ministry or clergy. Also called Brethren, Christian Brethren, Plymouthists, etc. The Darbyites are a division of the Brethren.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Dunker Dun"ker, n. [G. tunken to dip.] One of a religious denomination whose tenets and practices are mainly those of the Baptists, but partly those of the Quakers; -- called also Tunkers, Dunkards, Dippers, and, by themselves, Brethren, and German Baptists. Note: The denomination was founded in Germany in 1708, but after a few years the members emigrated to the United States. Seventh-day Dunkers, a sect which separated from the Dunkers and formed a community, in 1728. They keep the seventh day or Saturday as the Sabbath.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Brother Broth"er (br[u^][th]"[~e]r), n.; pl. Brothers (br[u^][th]"[~e]rz) or Brethren (br[e^][th]"r[e^]n). See Brethren. [OE. brother, AS. br[=o][eth]or; akin to OS. brothar, D. broeder, OHG. pruodar, G. bruder, Icel. br[=o][eth]ir, Sw. & Dan. broder, Goth. br[=o][thorn]ar, Ir. brathair, W. brawd, pl. brodyr, Lith. brolis, Lett. brahlis, Russ. brat', Pol. & Serv. brat, OSlav. bratr[u^], L. frater, Skr. bhr[=a]t[.r], Zend bratar brother, Gr. fra`thr, fra`twr, a clansman. The common plural is Brothers; in the solemn style, Brethren, OE. pl. brether, bretheren, AS. dat. sing. br[=e][eth]er, nom. pl. br[=o][eth]or, br[=o][eth]ru. [root]258. Cf. Friar, Fraternal.] 1. A male person who has the same father and mother with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case he is more definitely called a half brother, or brother of the half blood. Two of us in the churchyard lie, My sister and my brother. --Wordsworth. 2. One related or closely united to another by some common tie or interest, as of rank, profession, membership in a society, toil, suffering, etc.; -- used among judges, clergymen, monks, physicians, lawyers, professors of religion, etc. ``A brother of your order.'' --Shak. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother. --Shak. 3. One who, or that which, resembles another in distinctive qualities or traits of character. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. --Prov. xviii. 9. That April morn Of this the very brother. --Wordsworth. Note: In Scripture, the term brother is applied to a kinsman by blood more remote than a son of the same parents, as in the case of Abraham and Lot, Jacob and Laban. In a more general sense, brother or brethren is used for fellow-man or fellow-men. For of whom such massacre Make they but of their brethren, men of men? --Milton. Brother Jonathan, a humorous designation for the people of the United States collectively. The phrase is said to have originated from Washington's referring to the patriotic Jonathan Trumbull, governor of Connecticut, as ``Brother Jonathan.'' Blood brother. See under Blood.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Brother Broth"er (br[u^][th]"[~e]r), n.; pl. Brothers (br[u^][th]"[~e]rz) or Brethren (br[e^][th]"r[e^]n). See Brethren. [OE. brother, AS. br[=o][eth]or; akin to OS. brothar, D. broeder, OHG. pruodar, G. bruder, Icel. br[=o][eth]ir, Sw. & Dan. broder, Goth. br[=o][thorn]ar, Ir. brathair, W. brawd, pl. brodyr, Lith. brolis, Lett. brahlis, Russ. brat', Pol. & Serv. brat, OSlav. bratr[u^], L. frater, Skr. bhr[=a]t[.r], Zend bratar brother, Gr. fra`thr, fra`twr, a clansman. The common plural is Brothers; in the solemn style, Brethren, OE. pl. brether, bretheren, AS. dat. sing. br[=e][eth]er, nom. pl. br[=o][eth]or, br[=o][eth]ru. [root]258. Cf. Friar, Fraternal.] 1. A male person who has the same father and mother with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case he is more definitely called a half brother, or brother of the half blood. Two of us in the churchyard lie, My sister and my brother. --Wordsworth. 2. One related or closely united to another by some common tie or interest, as of rank, profession, membership in a society, toil, suffering, etc.; -- used among judges, clergymen, monks, physicians, lawyers, professors of religion, etc. ``A brother of your order.'' --Shak. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother. --Shak. 3. One who, or that which, resembles another in distinctive qualities or traits of character. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. --Prov. xviii. 9. That April morn Of this the very brother. --Wordsworth. Note: In Scripture, the term brother is applied to a kinsman by blood more remote than a son of the same parents, as in the case of Abraham and Lot, Jacob and Laban. In a more general sense, brother or brethren is used for fellow-man or fellow-men. For of whom such massacre Make they but of their brethren, men of men? --Milton. Brother Jonathan, a humorous designation for the people of the United States collectively. The phrase is said to have originated from Washington's referring to the patriotic Jonathan Trumbull, governor of Connecticut, as ``Brother Jonathan.'' Blood brother. See under Blood.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Brethren Breth"ren, n.; pl. of Brother. Note: This form of the plural is used, for the most part, in solemn address, and in speaking of religious sects or fraternities, or their members.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

You can refer to the members of a particular organization or group, especially a religious group, as brethren. (OLD-FASHIONED) Sri Lankans share a common ancestry with their Indian brethren. N-PLURAL: oft with poss

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

breth'-ren.

See BROTHER.

Moby Thesaurus

assembly, aunt, auntie, blood brother, brother, bub, bubba, bud, buddy, churchgoers, class, congregation, country cousin, cousin, cousin once removed, cousin twice removed, daughter, father, first cousin, flock, fold, foster brother, frater, grandnephew, grandniece, granduncle, great-aunt, great-uncle, half brother, kid brother, laity, laymen, minyan, mother, nephew, niece, nonclerics, nonordained persons, nuncle, nunks, nunky, parish, parishioners, people, second cousin, seculars, sheep, sis, sissy, sister, sister-german, sistern, society, son, stepbrother, stepsister, unc, uncle, uncs, uterine brother