brethren
/ˈbɹɛðɹən/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.51 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
noun
The body of members, especially of a fraternal, religious or military order.
noun
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.
noun
Members of the Church of the Brethren.
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "The principle still sounds good, but our astronomical knowledge is limited, and we haven't yet discovered any such brethren solar systems."
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 (plural ending). Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called umlaut.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: brethren, brethere, brōþor
Usage
Inflected Forms
brethern (alternative, obsolete)
bretheren (alternative, obsolete)
more brethren (comparative)
most brethren (superlative)