I. ˈsistə(r) noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English sister, suster, soster, partly from Old English sweostor and partly of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse systir sister; akin to Old High German swester sister, Gothic swistar, Latin soror, Old Slavic sestra, Sanskrit svasṛ
1.
a.
(1) : a female human being related to another person having the same parents
(2) : half sister
(3) : sister-in-law
b.
(1) : a kinswoman by blood
(2) : a female member of the same family, clan, or line
c. : a girl or woman felt to be a sister
she was a sister to the homeless child
d. : a female of a lower animal in relation to another having a common parent
2. often capitalized
a. : a member of a religious sisterhood
b. : a female member of a Christian church — often used with a surname or given name
3.
a. : a woman related or linked to another by a common tie or interest
she has sisters in graciousness over all the world — William Beebe
especially : a female human being sharing a common national or racial origin with another
the brightness … of their Irish, Danish, and French sisters — T.H.Fielding
b. : one having similar characteristics to another
the sonata is a thing … without sisters in more familiar musical literature — David Hebb
4. chiefly Britain : a head nurse in a hospital ward or clinic ; broadly : nurse
5. slang
a. : girl , woman — often used in direct address
get going, sister , while you're able — Erskine Caldwell
b. : person — usually used in the phrase weak sister
a subject introduced into the curriculum for the benefit of the weaker sisters — Kemp Malone
II. transitive verb
( sistered ; sistered ; sistering -t(ə)riŋ ; sisters )
1. : to stand in the relationship of a sister to : treat in the manner of a sister
her art sisters the natural roses — Shakespeare
2. : to address by the name of sister
III. noun
1. : soul sister herein
2. : a member of a sorority