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—brotherless, adj. —brotherlike, adj.n.1. a male offspring having both parents in common with another offspring; a male sibling.2. Also called half brother. a male offspring having only one parent in common with another offspring.3. a stepbrother.4. a male numbered among the same kinship group, nationality, race, profession, etc., as another; an associate; a fellow member, fellow countryman, fellow man, etc.: a fraternity brother.5. Eccles.a. (often cap.) a male numbered among the lay members of a religious organization that has a priesthood.b. a man who devotes himself to the duties of a religious order without taking holy orders, or while preparing for holy orders.6. brothers, all members of a particular race, or of the human race in general: All men are brothers.7. Slang. fellow; buddy: Brother, can you spare a dime?8. Informal. a black man; soul brother.9. Slang. (used to express disappointment, disgust, or surprise).[bef. 1000; ME; OE brothor; c. D broeder, G Bruder, ON brothir, Goth brothar, Skt bhratr, Gk phráter, L frater, OIr bráthair, OCS bratru]Syn. 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.
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Universalium. 2010.
