brethren
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
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 pl. Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called in English rephonologization or cheshirization, but is more usual in German where it is called umlaut.
Pronunciation
Noun
brethren
- (archaic) plural of brother
- (figuratively) The body of members, especially of a fraternal, religious or military order.
Usage notes
The plural brethren is generally used for members of an organization, especially a religious body, whereas the plural brothers is used in the familial sense as well as for larger groups.
Derived terms
Translations
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Adjective
brethren (comparative more brethren, superlative most brethren)
- Of or akin to; related; like
- 2009, Seth Shostak, Confessions of an Alien Hunter:
- The principle still sounds good, but our astronomical knowledge is limited, and we haven't yet discovered any such brethren solar systems.
See also
- Brethren
- brother
- sistren and nun
- friar and frater or father
- brotherhood, sisterhood
- fraternity
- siblings
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms suffixed with -en
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English non-lemma forms
- English noun forms
- English terms with archaic senses
- English plurals with umlaut
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English terms with quotations
- English plurals ending in "-en"
- en:Collectives