phratry
English
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phratry
- /ˈfɹætɹi/
Where it comes from
PIE word
*bʰréh₂tēr
From Latin phrātria, from Ancient Greek φρατρία (phratría, “tribe, clan”), from φράτηρ (phrátēr) + -ία (-ía).
noun phratries
- A clan or kinship group consisting of a number of families claiming descent from a common ancestor and having certain collective functions and responsibilities. To be sure, he plays a decisive role at the time of the birth, since he confers on the child legitimacy, at least on the son, by taking him in his arms, walking him around the house and declaring him his son in front of the members of his phratry: in Athens, no one may obtain citizenship without the
- A former kinship division consisting of two or more distinct clans with separate identities but considered to be a single unit. The moieties are linked to or bear the names of beings or forces expressing the cosmic dichotomy. Most common are heaven and earth moieties, "above" and "below," or moieties named after birds and land animals (or aquatic animals), as is the case among the Winnebago and in the phratry system of the N
Talk about this word "phratry." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/phratry. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. phratry. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/phratry "phratry." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/phratry.Cite this
@misc{phratry_2026,
title = {phratry},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/phratry},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
