Brethren

Pronunciation: /ˈbrɛðrən/

Definitions of brethren

noun a group of people who share a common interest or purpose, especially within a religious or fraternal organization

Example Sentences

A1 My brethren and I go to the same church.

A2 The brethren in the monastery live a simple life.

B1 The brethren of the organization work together to achieve their goals.

B2 The brethren of the fraternity have a strong bond that lasts a lifetime.

C1 The brethren of the council are responsible for making important decisions.

C2 The brethren of the order have dedicated their lives to serving others.

Examples of brethren in a Sentence

formal I am pleased to welcome all my brethren to the annual conference.

informal Hey brethren, let's grab some food after the meeting.

slang What's up, my brethren? You ready to hit the town tonight?

figurative In times of hardship, we must stand together as brethren to overcome challenges.

Grammatical Forms of brethren

• past tense: brethrened
• plural: brethren
• comparative: more brethren
• superlative: most brethren
• present tense: brother
• future tense: will brother
• perfect tense: have brothered
• continuous tense: is brothering
• singular: brother
• positive degree: brotherly
• infinitive: to brother
• gerund: brothering
• participle: brothered

Origin and Evolution of brethren

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'brethren' originated from Old English, where it was derived from the word 'brother' and the suffix '-en' which denoted a plural form.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'brethren' has evolved to be used primarily in religious contexts to refer to fellow members of a religious community or sect, particularly in Christian denominations. It is less commonly used in general everyday language compared to its singular form 'brother'.