Origin: bef. 1000; ME; OE
brōthor; c. D
broeder, G
Bruder, ON
brōthir, Goth
brothar, Skt
bhrātṛ, Gk
phr
tēr, L
frāter, OIr
bráthair, OCS
bratrŭ
Related forms: broth⋅er⋅less, adjective
broth⋅er⋅like, adjective
Synonyms:
1. Brothers, brethren are plurals of brother. Brothers are kinsmen, sons of the same parents: My mother lives with my brothers. Brethren, now archaic in the foregoing sense, is used of male members of a congregation or of a fraternal organization: The brethren will meet at the church.