Link Centre Dictionary

Also Plural of brother

brethren

breth·ren

UK/ˈbɹɛðɹən/ US/ˈbrɛðrʌn/ fairly common

noun

1.

(plural) the lay members of a male religious order

Origin

From Early Modern English brethren, plural of brother, from Middle English brethren, from Middle English brethere, brether + -en (plural ending). Ultimately from Old English brōþor, brōþru (“brothers, brethren”), influenced by Old English brēþer, dative singular of brōþor (“brother”). Equivalent to brother + -en (plural ending). Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called umlaut.

Phrases

  • blood brethren
  • brethren in arms
  • brother in Christ
  • half brethren
  • lay brethren
  • River Brethren
  • Social Brethren
  • United Brethren
  • uterine brethren

Related words

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.