Category:Brother

Broth"er, n.; pl. Brothers or Brethren. See Brethren. Etym: [OE. brother, AS. bro; akin to OS. brothar, D. broeder, OHG. pruodar, G. bruder, Icel. bro, Sw. & Dan. broder, Goth. bro, Ir. brathair, W. brawd, pl. brodyr, Lith. brolis, Lett. brahlis, Russ. brat', Pol. & Serv. brat, OSlav. brat, L. frater, Skr. bhrat, Zend. bratar brother, Gr. Brothers; in the solemn style, Brethren, OE. pl. brether, bretheren, AS. dat. sing. bre, nom. pl. bro, bro. sq. root258. Cf. Frair, Fraternal.]

1. A male person who has the same father and mother with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case he is more definitely called a half brother, or brother of the half blood. Two of us in the churchyard lie, My sister and my brother. Wordsworth.

2. One related or closely united to another by some common tie or interest, as of rank, profession, membership in a society, toil, suffering, etc.; -- used among judges, clergymen, monks, physicians, lawers, professors of religion, etc. "A brother of your order." Shak. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother. Shak.

3. One who, or that which, resembles another in distinctive qualities or traits of character. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Prov. xviii. 9. That April morn Of this the very brother. Wordsworth.

Note: In Scripture, the term brother is applied to a kinsman by blood more remote than a son of the same parents, as in the case of Abraham and Lot, Jacob and Laban. In a more general sense, brother or brethren is used for fellow-man or fellow-men. For of whom such massacre Make they but of their brethren, men of men Milton. Brother Jonathan, a humorous designation for the people of the United States collectively. The phrase is said to have originated from Washington's referring to the patriotic Jonathan Trumbull, governor of Connecticut, as "Brother Jonathan." -- Blood brother. See under Blood.

Brother Broth"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brothered.]

Defn: To make a brother of; to call or treat as a brother; to admit to a brotherhood. Sir W. Scott.

-- ---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Brother -

(1.) In the natural and common sense (Matthew 1:2; Luke 3:1, Luke 3:19).

(2.) A near relation, a cousin (Genesis 13:8; Genesis 14:16; Matthew 12:46; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; Galatians 1:19).

(3.) Simply a fellow-countryman (Matthew 5:47; Acts 3:22; Hebrews 7:5).

(4.) A disciple or follower (Matthew 25:40; Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 2:12).

(5.) One of the same faith (Amos 1:9; Acts 9:30; Acts 11:29; 1 Corinthians 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 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1).

(7.) A fellow-man (Genesis 9:5; Genesis 19:7; Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:23, Matthew 5:24; Matthew 7:5; Hebrews 2:17).

(8.) One beloved or closely united with another in affection (2 Samuel 1:26; Acts 6:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:1). Brethren of Jesus (Matthew 1:25; Matthew 12:46, Matthew 12:50; Mark 3:31, Mark 3:32; Galatians 1:19; 1 Corinthians 9:5, etc.) were relatives. 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.