brethren
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brethren¹
- /ˈbɹɛðɹən/
Where it comes from
From Early Modern English brethren, plural of brother, from Middle English bretheren, 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.
noun brethern · bretheren
- plural of brother 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.
- kinsmen
noun brethern · bretheren
- The body of members, especially of a fraternal, religious or military order. The unity of Muslim and Jewish leaders on this issue in Europe should spur Orthodox Jews to stand up for our Muslims^([sic]) brethren in detention centers.
adjective more brethren · most brethren · brethern · bretheren
- 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.
Brethren²
- /ˈbɹɛðɹən/
Rhymes with -ɛðɹən
Where it comes from
Specific use of brethren as a semantic loan from German Brüder.
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.
- Members of the Church of the Brethren.
Similar: Dunkard, Dunker, German Baptist Brethren, German Baptist, Tunker
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: sibling, brotherhood, fraternity, fellowship, peers, cilician, pirate, plymouth, braves, bros, brotherhoods, buddies, classmates, compatriots, comrades, countrymen
noun
Similar: Dunkard, Dunker, German Baptist Brethren, German Baptist, Tunker
Translations
Every language
noun the body of members
| Español | hermanos, camaradas, correligionarios, cofrades, cofradía, hermandad |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 同胞 dōhō |
| 中文 | 同胞 tóngbāo |
| Português | confraria, confrades, irmãos |
| Français | confrérie, confrères, frères |
| Deutsch | Brüder, Brüdergemeinschaft |
| Italiano | confratelli |
| Ελληνικά | αδελφότητα adelfótita, αδελφοί adelfoí |
| Русский | бра́тство brátstvo |
Talk about this word "brethren." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/brethren. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. brethren. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/brethren "brethren." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/brethren.Cite this
@misc{brethren_2026,
title = {brethren},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/brethren},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
