Brethren Meaning
/ˈbɹɛðɹən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounplural of brother
nounkinsmen
Sentence Examples
Snippy had the bluest blood of all his crab brethren.
Are they our distant brethren?
CEFR Practice Quiz
The monks gathered with their ____ for the evening prayer service.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The group considered all its members as ____ in their common cause.
Word Origin & History
From Early Modern English brethren, plural of brother, from Middle English brethren, from Middle English brethere, brether + -en (plural ending). Ultimately from Old English brōþor, brōþru (“brothers, brethren”), influenced by Old English brēþer, dative singular of brōþor (“brother”). Equivalent to brother + -en (plural ending). Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called umlaut.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The Introit over, the service is interrupted for the feast. Contrary to the festive fashion of the nobles, who all sit with their swords beside them, here, in this feast of brethren, are no arms, not even a knife."
— 1863, Jules Michelet, La Sorcière: The Witch of the Middle Ages translated by Lionel J. Trotter:
"The principle still sounds good, but our astronomical knowledge is limited, and we haven't yet discovered any such brethren solar systems."
— 2009, Seth Shostak, Confessions of an Alien Hunter:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The monks gathered with their ____ for the evening prayer service.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The group considered all its members as ____ in their common cause.