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.