n.
Pronunciation: ˌ kän-fr ə - ' t ə r-n ə -t ē
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English confraternite, from Medieval Latin confraternitat-, confraternitas, from confrater fellow, brother, from Latin com- + frater brother ― more at BROTHER
Date: 15th century
1 : a society devoted especially to a religious or charitable cause
2 : fraternal union