| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
brother (ˈbrʌðə) ![]() | |
| —n , pl (archaic except when referring to fellow members of a religion, sect, society, etc) brothers, brethren | |
| 1. | a male person having the same parents as another person |
| 2. | half-brother short for stepbrother |
| 3. | a. a male person belonging to the same group, profession, nationality, trade union, etc, as another or others; fellow member |
| b. (as modifier): brother workers | |
| 4. | comrade; friend: used as a form of address |
| 5. | Christianity Related: fraternal |
| a. a member of a male religious order who undertakes work for the order without actually being in holy orders | |
| b. a lay member of a male religious order | |
| —interj | |
| 6. | slang an exclamation of amazement, disgust, surprise, disappointment, etc |
| Related: fraternal | |
| [Old English brōthor; related to Old Norse brōthir, Old High German bruoder, Latin frāter, Greek phratēr, Sanskrit bhrātar] | |
(soul) brother definition
|
(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.