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Brethren

//ˈbɹɛðɹən// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of or akin to; related; like

    "The principle still sounds good, but our astronomical knowledge is limited, and we haven't yet discovered any such brethren solar systems."

Noun
  1. 1
    plural of brother archaic, form-of, plural

    "The Introit over, the service is interrupted for the feast. Contrary to the festive fashion of the nobles, who all sit with their swords beside them, here, in this feast of brethren, are no arms, not even a knife."

  2. 2
    The body of members, especially of a fraternal, religious or military order. figuratively, plural, plural-only
  3. 3
    Members of any congregation in the Anabaptist tradition of the Schwarzenau Brethren, practicing credobaptism and committed to nonresistance and nonviolence, some of whom may wear plain dress and shun modern technology. plural, plural-only
  4. 4
    (plural) the lay members of a male religious order wordnet
  5. 5
    kinsmen poetic
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    Members of the Church of the Brethren. plural, plural-only, specifically

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Early Modern English brethren, plural of brother, from Middle English brethren, from Middle English brethere, brether + -en (plural ending). Ultimately from Old English brōþor, brōþru (“brothers, brethren”), influenced by Old English brēþer, dative singular of brōþor (“brother”). Equivalent to brother + -en (plural ending). Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called umlaut.

Etymology 2

From Early Modern English brethren, plural of brother, from Middle English brethren, from Middle English brethere, brether + -en (plural ending). Ultimately from Old English brōþor, brōþru (“brothers, brethren”), influenced by Old English brēþer, dative singular of brōþor (“brother”). Equivalent to brother + -en (plural ending). Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called umlaut.

Etymology 3

From Early Modern English brethren, plural of brother, from Middle English brethren, from Middle English brethere, brether + -en (plural ending). Ultimately from Old English brōþor, brōþru (“brothers, brethren”), influenced by Old English brēþer, dative singular of brōþor (“brother”). Equivalent to brother + -en (plural ending). Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called umlaut.

Etymology 4

Specific use of brethren as a semantic loan from German Brüder.

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