— confraternal , adj.
/kon'freuh terr"ni tee/ , n. , pl. confraternities .
1. a lay brotherhood devoted to some purpose, esp. to religious or charitable service.
2. a society or organization, esp. of men, united for some purpose or in some profession.
[ 1425-75; late ME confraternite confraternitas, deriv. of confrater (see CONFRERE), on the model of L fraternitas FRATERNITY ]