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more about brother
brother |
4 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 Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Brother \Broth"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Brothered}.] To make a brother of to call or treat as a brother; to admit to a brotherhood. --Sir W. Scott. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: brother adj : being associated as a companion or associate; "fellow traveler"; "brother workers"; "sister ship" [syn: {fellow(a)}, {brother(a)}, {sister(a)}] n 1: a male with the same parents as someone else; "my brother still lives with our parents" [syn: {blood brother}] [ant: {sister}] 2: a male person who is a fellow member (of a fraternity or religion of other group); "none of his brothers would betray him" 3: a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities [syn: {buddy}, {chum}, {crony}, {pal}, {sidekick}] 4: used as a term of address for those male persons engaged in the same movement; "Greetings, comrade!" [syn: {comrade}] 5: (Roman Catholic) a title given to a monk and used as form of address; "a Benedictine Brother" [syn: {Brother}] From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: Brother (1.) In the natural and common sense (Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:1, 19). (2.) A near relation, a cousin (Gen. 13:8; 14:16; Matt. 12:46; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; Gal. 1:19). (3.) Simply a fellow-countryman (Matt. 5:47; Acts 3:22; Heb. 7:5). (4.) A disciple or follower (Matt. 25:40; Heb. 2:11, 12). (5.) One of the same faith (Amos 1:9; Acts 9:30; 11:29; 1 Cor. 5:11); whence the early disciples of our Lord were known to each other as brethren. (6.) A colleague in office (Ezra 3:2; 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1). (7.) A fellow-man (Gen. 9:5; 19:7; Matt. 5:22, 23, 24; 7:5; Heb. 2:17). (8.) One beloved or closely united with another in affection (2 Sam. 1:26; Acts 6:3; 1 Thess. 5:1). Brethren of Jesus (Matt. 1:25; 12:46, 50: Mark 3:31, 32; Gal. 1:19; 1 Cor. 9:5, etc.) were probably the younger children of Joseph and Mary. Some have supposed that they may have been the children of Joseph by a former marriage, and others that they were the children of Mary, the Virgin's sister, and wife of Cleophas. The first interpretation, however, is the most natural.
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