2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Brother  \Broth"er\  (br[u^][th]"[~e]r),  n.;  pl  {Brothers} 
  (br[u^][th]"[~e]rz)  or  {Brethren}  (br[e^][th]"r[e^]n).  See 
  {Brethren}.  [OE.  brother,  AS  br[=o][eth]or;  akin  to  OS 
  brothar,  D.  broeder,  OHG.  pruodar  G.  bruder,  Icel. 
  br[=o][eth]ir,  Sw  &  Dan.  broder,  Goth.  br[=o][thorn]ar,  Ir 
  brathair  W.  brawd,  pl  brodyr  Lith.  brolis,  Lett.  brahlis 
  Russ.  brat',  Pol.  &  Serv.  brat,  OSlav.  bratr[u^],  L.  frater, 
  Skr.  bhr[=a]t[.r],  Zend  bratar  brother,  Gr  fra`thr,  fra`twr, 
  a  clansman.  The  common  plural  is  {Brothers};  in  the  solemn 
  style,  {Brethren},  OE  pl  brether,  bretheren,  AS  dat.  sing. 
  br[=e][eth]er,  nom.  pl  br[=o][eth]or,  br[=o][eth]ru. 
  [root]258.  Cf  {Friar},  {Fraternal}.] 
  1.  A  male  person  who  has  the  same  father  and  mother  with 
  another  person,  or  who  has  one  of  them  only.  In  the  latter 
  case  he  is  more  definitely  called  a  half  brother,  or 
  brother  of  the  half  blood. 
 
  Two  of  us  in  the  churchyard  lie,  My  sister  and  my 
  brother.  --Wordsworth. 
 
  2.  One  related  or  closely  united  to  another  by  some  common 
  tie  or  interest,  as  of  rank,  profession,  membership  in  a 
  society,  toil,  suffering,  etc.;  --  used  among  judges, 
  clergymen,  monks,  physicians,  lawyers,  professors  of 
  religion,  etc  ``A  brother  of  your  order.''  --Shak. 
 
  We  few  we  happy  few  we  band  of  brothers,  For  he 
  to-day  that  sheds  his  blood  with  me  Shall  be  my 
  brother.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  One  who  or  that  which  resembles  another  in  distinctive 
  qualities  or  traits  of  character. 
 
  He  also  that  is  slothful  in  his  work  is  brother  to 
  him  that  is  a  great  waster.  --Prov.  xviii. 
  9. 
 
  That  April  morn  Of  this  the  very  brother. 
  --Wordsworth. 
 
  Note:  In  Scripture,  the  term  brother  is  applied  to  a  kinsman 
  by  blood  more  remote  than  a  son  of  the  same  parents,  as 
  in  the  case  of  Abraham  and  Lot  Jacob  and  Laban.  In  a 
  more  general  sense  brother  or  brethren  is  used  for 
  fellow-man  or  fellow-men. 
 
  For  of  whom  such  massacre  Make  they  but  of  their 
  brethren,  men  of  men?  --Milton. 
 
  {Brother  Jonathan},  a  humorous  designation  for  the  people  of 
  the  United  States  collectively.  The  phrase  is  said  to  have 
  originated  from  Washington's  referring  to  the  patriotic 
  Jonathan  Trumbull,  governor  of  Connecticut,  as  ``Brother 
  Jonathan.'' 
 
  {Blood  brother}.  See  under  {Blood}. 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Brothers,  OR 
  Zip  code(s):  97712 

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