brethren etymology

Etymology:

• Old English brēðer ("brothers")
• Proto-Germanic *brōþrōz
• Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr
• Sanskrit bhrātr̥ ("brother")
• Greek phrātēr ("brother")
• Latin frāter ("brother")

Meaning:

"Brethren" is an archaic or formal term for "brothers," referring to either:

• Brothers by blood
• Members of a religious brotherhood or order
• Members of a fraternal organization or group

Origin:

The word "brethren" has its origins in the Indo-European root bʰréh₂tēr, which meant "brother" or "one who is cherished." This root is related to other words for "brother" in various Indo-European languages, including Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin.

In Old English, the word brēðer was used to refer to both physical brothers and members of the Christian community. Over time, the usage of "brethren" became more restricted to religious and fraternal contexts.

brethren relate terms

• brother

  Etymology The word brother is derived from the Proto Indo European root bhrāter mea

• sistren

  Etymology The word sistren is derived from the Middle English word susterne which i

• sister

  Etymology Old English sweostor Proto Germanic swestr Proto Indo European swesor Mea

• brethren

  Etymology Old English brēðer brothers Proto Germanic brōþrōz Proto Indo Europ

• brethren

  Etymology Old English brēðer brothers Proto Germanic brōþrōz Proto Indo Europ

• brother

  Etymology The word brother is derived from the Proto Indo European root bhrāter mea

• confrere

  Etymology French confrère from Old French Latin confrater meaning brother of the

• fraternal

  Etymology The word fraternal comes from the Latin word frater meaning brother M

• fraternity

  Etymology The word fraternity derives from the Latin word fraternitas which means

• fraternize

  Etymology French fraterniser from Latin fraternus meaning brotherly Late Latin f

• friar

  Etymology The word friar comes from the Old French word frere which is derived from

• friary

  Etymology The word friary is derived from the Old French word frerie which in turn

• minor

  Etymology The word minor originates from the comparative form of the Latin adjective

• maple

  Etymology The word maple comes from the Old English word mapuldor which in turn com

• cleric

  Etymology The word cleric is derived from the following Latin clericus Greek kler

• Philadelphia

  Etymology and Meaning of Philadelphia The name Philadelphia is derived from the Greek

• much

  Etymology The word etymology is derived from the Greek words étymon meaning true s

• comrade

  Etymology The word comrade derives from the Middle French word comrade which in turn

• mason

  Etymology and Meaning The name Mason has both French and English origins French De

• fraternity

  Etymology The word fraternity derives from the Latin word fraternitas which means

• monk

  Etymology The word monk comes from the Greek word monos meaning alone Meaning