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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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