/ ˈbrʌðəhʊd; NAmE -ðərh-/ noun
1.
[ U ] friendship and understanding between people :
to live in peace and brotherhood
2.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] an organization formed for a particular purpose, especially a religious society or political organization
3.
[ U ] the relationship of brothers :
the ties of brotherhood
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : probably from obsolete brotherred (based on Old English -rǣden condition, state ; compare with kindred ). The change of suffix was due to association with words ending in -hood and -head .