brethren

• brethern, bretheren (obsolete)

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.

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɹɛðɹən/

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brethren

1. (archaic) plural of brother
   • 1863, Jules Michelet, La Sorcière: The Witch of the Middle Ages translated by Lionel J. Trotter‎^[1]:

     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.

2. (poetic) kinsmen

The plural brethren is generally used for members of an organization, especially a religious body, whereas the plural brothers is used in the familial sense as well as for larger groups.

brethren pl (plural only)

1. (figuratively) The body of members, especially of a fraternal, religious or military order.

• sistren

brethren (comparative more brethren, superlative most brethren)

1. Of or akin to; related; like
   • 2009, Seth Shostak, Confessions of an Alien Hunter:

     The principle still sounds good, but our astronomical knowledge is limited, and we haven't yet discovered any such brethren solar systems.

• Brethren
• brother
• sistren and nun
• friar and frater or father
• brotherhood, sisterhood
• fraternity
• siblings