— brotherless , adj. — brotherlike , adj.
/brudh"euhr/ or, for 9, /brudh"err"/ , n. , pl. brothers , ( Archaic ) brethren; interj.
n.
1. a male offspring having both parents in common with another offspring; a male sibling.
2. Also called half brother . a male offspring having only one parent in common with another offspring.
3. a stepbrother.
4. a male numbered among the same kinship group, nationality, race, profession, etc., as another; an associate; a fellow member, fellow countryman, fellow man, etc.: a fraternity brother.
5. Eccles.
a. ( often cap. ) a male numbered among the lay members of a religious organization that has a priesthood.
b. a man who devotes himself to the duties of a religious order without taking holy orders, or while preparing for holy orders.
6. brothers , all members of a particular race, or of the human race in general: All men are brothers.
7. Slang. fellow; buddy: Brother, can you spare a dime?
8. Informal. a black man; soul brother.
interj.
9. Slang. (used to express disappointment, disgust, or surprise).
[ bef. 1000; ME; OE brothor; c. D broeder, G Bruder, ON brothir, Goth brothar, Skt bhratr, Gk phráter, L frater, OIr bráthair, OCS bratru ]
Syn. 1. BROTHERS, BRETHREN are plurals of brother. BROTHERS are kinsmen, sons of the same parents: My mother lives with my brothers. BRETHREN, now archaic in the foregoing sense, is used of male members of a congregation or of a fraternal organization: The brethren will meet at the church.