Brother

Brother, bruth′ėr, n. a male born of the same parents: any one closely united with or resembling another; associated in common interests, occupation, &c.: a fellow-member of a religious order, a fellow-member of a guild, &c.: a fellow-creature, fellow-citizen, a co-religionist: (B.) a kinsman: pl. Broth′ers and Breth′ren, the latter esp. used in the sense of fellow-membership of guilds, religious communities, &c., and is a name given to certain sections of the Church of Christ, as Christian Brethren, Moravian Brethren, Plymouth Brethren, &c.—ns. Broth′er-ger′man, a brother having the same father and mother, in contradistinction to a half-brother, by one parent only; Broth′erhood, the state of being a brother: an association of men for any purpose; Broth′er-in-law, the brother of a husband or wife: a sister's husband.—adjs. Broth′er-like, Broth′erly, like a brother: kind: affectionate.—n. Broth′erliness, state of being brotherly: kindness. [A.S. broðor; cog. with Ger. bruder, Gael. brathair, Fr. frère, L. frater, Sans. bhrátar.]