"brother" meaning in Middle English

See brother in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /ˈbroːðər/ Forms: brether [plural], brethren [plural], brotheren [plural], brothers [plural, rare], brother [genitive], brothers [genitive]
Etymology: From Old English brōþor, from Proto-West Germanic *brōþer, from Proto-Germanic *brōþēr, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr. Doublet of frere. Etymology templates: {{inh|enm|ang|brōþor}} Old English brōþor, {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*brōþer}} Proto-West Germanic *brōþer, {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*brōþēr}} Proto-Germanic *brōþēr, {{inh|enm|ine-pro|*bʰréh₂tēr}} Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr, {{doublet|enm|frere}} Doublet of frere Head templates: {{head|enm|nouns|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=}} brother, {{enm-noun|gen=brother|gen2=brothers|pl=brether|pl2=brethren|pl3=brotheren|pl4=brothers|pl4_qual=rare}} brother (plural brether or brethren or brotheren or (rare) brothers, genitive brother or brothers)
  1. A brother or brother-in-law; a male sibling. Categories (topical): Male family members
    Sense id: en-brother-enm-noun-Z~RScyb2 Disambiguation of Male family members: 30 19 2 1 2 16 4 25 1
  2. A (Christian) man (i.e. as a "brother in life/brother in Christ"). Categories (topical): Crafts, Directives, Male family members, Monarchy
    Sense id: en-brother-enm-noun-Hbj1L7vO Disambiguation of Crafts: 2 33 7 2 8 2 12 32 2 Disambiguation of Directives: 3 37 5 4 3 3 11 30 4 Disambiguation of Male family members: 30 19 2 1 2 16 4 25 1 Disambiguation of Monarchy: 5 32 7 4 5 4 13 29 2 Categories (other): Pages with 5 entries, Pages with entries, Middle English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of Pages with 5 entries: 0 13 13 11 12 8 2 1 8 1 1 12 1 0 0 0 4 11 0 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 0 13 13 10 14 7 1 1 9 0 0 13 1 0 0 0 4 12 0 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 3 36 5 1 3 3 11 35 2
  3. A blood brother; one in a mutual pact of loyalty between two.
    Sense id: en-brother-enm-noun-H0NGn3Uw
  4. Another member of a religious community or order (when one is a member) Categories (topical): Religion
    Sense id: en-brother-enm-noun-nf7G-WJD Disambiguation of Religion: 0 30 0 53 17 0 0 0 0
  5. Another member of a guild or craft association (when one is a member)
    Sense id: en-brother-enm-noun-SKWexaql
  6. A male individual who one has a close platonic relationship with. Categories (topical): Male family members
    Sense id: en-brother-enm-noun-2pdkIP2w Disambiguation of Male family members: 30 19 2 1 2 16 4 25 1
  7. (rare) One of one's peers as a ruler; (another) ruler. Tags: rare Categories (topical): Crafts, Directives, Monarchy
    Sense id: en-brother-enm-noun-PwJ4fDdV Disambiguation of Crafts: 2 33 7 2 8 2 12 32 2 Disambiguation of Directives: 3 37 5 4 3 3 11 30 4 Disambiguation of Monarchy: 5 32 7 4 5 4 13 29 2 Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 3 36 5 1 3 3 11 35 2
  8. (rare) A relative or family member who is a man. Tags: rare Categories (topical): Crafts, Directives, Male family members, Monarchy
    Sense id: en-brother-enm-noun-tIze4luk Disambiguation of Crafts: 2 33 7 2 8 2 12 32 2 Disambiguation of Directives: 3 37 5 4 3 3 11 30 4 Disambiguation of Male family members: 30 19 2 1 2 16 4 25 1 Disambiguation of Monarchy: 5 32 7 4 5 4 13 29 2 Categories (other): Pages with 5 entries, Pages with entries, Middle English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of Pages with 5 entries: 0 13 13 11 12 8 2 1 8 1 1 12 1 0 0 0 4 11 0 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 0 13 13 10 14 7 1 1 9 0 0 13 1 0 0 0 4 12 0 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 3 36 5 1 3 3 11 35 2
  9. (rare, alchemy) Something similar to something else. Tags: rare Categories (topical): Alchemy
    Sense id: en-brother-enm-noun-irWigSUg Topics: alchemy, pseudoscience
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: brotherhede, brother-in-lawe, brotherles, brotherly, brotherwort

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "en",
            "2": "brother"
          },
          "expansion": "English: brother",
          "name": "desc"
        },
        {
          "args": {},
          "expansion": "(see there for further descendants)",
          "name": "see desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "English: brother (see there for further descendants)"
    },
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "sco",
            "2": "brither",
            "3": "bruther",
            "4": "broder",
            "5": "bruder"
          },
          "expansion": "Scots: brither, bruther, broder, bruder",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "Scots: brither, bruther, broder, bruder"
    },
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "yol",
            "2": "brover",
            "alts": "1"
          },
          "expansion": "Yola: brover, brower",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "Yola: brover, brower"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "brōþor"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English brōþor",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*brōþer"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *brōþer",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*brōþēr"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *brōþēr",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*bʰréh₂tēr"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "frere"
      },
      "expansion": "Doublet of frere",
      "name": "doublet"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English brōþor, from Proto-West Germanic *brōþer, from Proto-Germanic *brōþēr, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr. Doublet of frere.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "brether",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brethren",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brotheren",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brothers",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brother",
      "tags": [
        "genitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brothers",
      "tags": [
        "genitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "nouns",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "brother",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "gen": "brother",
        "gen2": "brothers",
        "pl": "brether",
        "pl2": "brethren",
        "pl3": "brotheren",
        "pl4": "brothers",
        "pl4_qual": "rare"
      },
      "expansion": "brother (plural brether or brethren or brotheren or (rare) brothers, genitive brother or brothers)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brotherhede"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brother-in-lawe"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brotherles"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brotherly"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brotherwort"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "30 19 2 1 2 16 4 25 1",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Male family members",
          "orig": "enm:Male family members",
          "parents": [
            "Family members",
            "Male people",
            "Family",
            "Male",
            "People",
            "Gender",
            "Human",
            "Biology",
            "Psychology",
            "Sociology",
            "All topics",
            "Sciences",
            "Social sciences",
            "Fundamental",
            "Society"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "Now, brother Walter, my brother / by way of blood relation / and my brother in Christendom / through baptising and through faith […]",
          "ref": "c. 1200, Ormin, “Dedication”, in Ormulum, lines 1–4:",
          "text": "Nu bꝛoþerr Wallterr bꝛoþerr min / Affterr þe flæſheſſ kinde / ⁊ broþerr min i Criſſtendom / Þurrh fulluhht ⁊ þurrh trowwþe […]",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A brother or brother-in-law; a male sibling."
      ],
      "id": "en-brother-enm-noun-Z~RScyb2",
      "links": [
        [
          "brother",
          "brother#English"
        ],
        [
          "brother-in-law",
          "brother-in-law"
        ],
        [
          "male",
          "male"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "0 13 13 11 12 8 2 1 8 1 1 12 1 0 0 0 4 11 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 5 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "0 13 13 10 14 7 1 1 9 0 0 13 1 0 0 0 4 12 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 36 5 1 3 3 11 35 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 33 7 2 8 2 12 32 2",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Crafts",
          "orig": "enm:Crafts",
          "parents": [
            "Society",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 37 5 4 3 3 11 30 4",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Directives",
          "orig": "enm:Directives",
          "parents": [
            "Communication",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "30 19 2 1 2 16 4 25 1",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Male family members",
          "orig": "enm:Male family members",
          "parents": [
            "Family members",
            "Male people",
            "Family",
            "Male",
            "People",
            "Gender",
            "Human",
            "Biology",
            "Psychology",
            "Sociology",
            "All topics",
            "Sciences",
            "Social sciences",
            "Fundamental",
            "Society"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 32 7 4 5 4 13 29 2",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Monarchy",
          "orig": "enm:Monarchy",
          "parents": [
            "Forms of government",
            "High society",
            "Government",
            "Society",
            "Politics",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "I, John, your brother and partner in tribulation, the Kingdom, and endurance in Jesus Christ, was on an island that's called Patmos for the word of God and for the witnessing of Jesus.",
          "ref": "c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Apocalips 1:9, page 117v, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:",
          "text": "I ioon ȝoure bꝛoþer ⁊ partener in tribulacioun ⁊ kingdom ⁊ pacience in criſt iheſu .· was in an ile þat is clepid pathmos · foꝛ þe woꝛd of god · ⁊ foꝛ þe witneſſyng of iheſu",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A (Christian) man (i.e. as a \"brother in life/brother in Christ\")."
      ],
      "id": "en-brother-enm-noun-Hbj1L7vO",
      "links": [
        [
          "Christian",
          "Christian"
        ],
        [
          "man",
          "man"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A blood brother; one in a mutual pact of loyalty between two."
      ],
      "id": "en-brother-enm-noun-H0NGn3Uw",
      "links": [
        [
          "blood brother",
          "blood brother"
        ],
        [
          "loyalty",
          "loyalty"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "0 30 0 53 17 0 0 0 0",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Religion",
          "orig": "enm:Religion",
          "parents": [
            "Culture",
            "Society",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Another member of a religious community or order (when one is a member)"
      ],
      "id": "en-brother-enm-noun-nf7G-WJD",
      "links": [
        [
          "member",
          "member"
        ],
        [
          "community",
          "community"
        ],
        [
          "order",
          "order"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Another member of a guild or craft association (when one is a member)"
      ],
      "id": "en-brother-enm-noun-SKWexaql",
      "links": [
        [
          "member",
          "member"
        ],
        [
          "guild",
          "guild"
        ],
        [
          "craft",
          "craft"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "30 19 2 1 2 16 4 25 1",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Male family members",
          "orig": "enm:Male family members",
          "parents": [
            "Family members",
            "Male people",
            "Family",
            "Male",
            "People",
            "Gender",
            "Human",
            "Biology",
            "Psychology",
            "Sociology",
            "All topics",
            "Sciences",
            "Social sciences",
            "Fundamental",
            "Society"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A male individual who one has a close platonic relationship with."
      ],
      "id": "en-brother-enm-noun-2pdkIP2w",
      "links": [
        [
          "platonic",
          "platonic"
        ],
        [
          "relationship",
          "relationship"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "3 36 5 1 3 3 11 35 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 33 7 2 8 2 12 32 2",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Crafts",
          "orig": "enm:Crafts",
          "parents": [
            "Society",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 37 5 4 3 3 11 30 4",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Directives",
          "orig": "enm:Directives",
          "parents": [
            "Communication",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 32 7 4 5 4 13 29 2",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Monarchy",
          "orig": "enm:Monarchy",
          "parents": [
            "Forms of government",
            "High society",
            "Government",
            "Society",
            "Politics",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "One of one's peers as a ruler; (another) ruler."
      ],
      "id": "en-brother-enm-noun-PwJ4fDdV",
      "links": [
        [
          "ruler",
          "ruler"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) One of one's peers as a ruler; (another) ruler."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "0 13 13 11 12 8 2 1 8 1 1 12 1 0 0 0 4 11 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 5 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "0 13 13 10 14 7 1 1 9 0 0 13 1 0 0 0 4 12 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 36 5 1 3 3 11 35 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 33 7 2 8 2 12 32 2",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Crafts",
          "orig": "enm:Crafts",
          "parents": [
            "Society",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 37 5 4 3 3 11 30 4",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Directives",
          "orig": "enm:Directives",
          "parents": [
            "Communication",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "30 19 2 1 2 16 4 25 1",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Male family members",
          "orig": "enm:Male family members",
          "parents": [
            "Family members",
            "Male people",
            "Family",
            "Male",
            "People",
            "Gender",
            "Human",
            "Biology",
            "Psychology",
            "Sociology",
            "All topics",
            "Sciences",
            "Social sciences",
            "Fundamental",
            "Society"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 32 7 4 5 4 13 29 2",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Monarchy",
          "orig": "enm:Monarchy",
          "parents": [
            "Forms of government",
            "High society",
            "Government",
            "Society",
            "Politics",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A relative or family member who is a man."
      ],
      "id": "en-brother-enm-noun-tIze4luk",
      "links": [
        [
          "relative",
          "relative"
        ],
        [
          "man",
          "man"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) A relative or family member who is a man."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Alchemy",
          "orig": "enm:Alchemy",
          "parents": [
            "Forteana",
            "Pseudoscience",
            "Sciences",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Something similar to something else."
      ],
      "id": "en-brother-enm-noun-irWigSUg",
      "links": [
        [
          "alchemy",
          "alchemy"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare, alchemy) Something similar to something else."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "alchemy",
        "pseudoscience"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈbroːðər/"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "broþer"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "broþir"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "broþur"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "broder"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "broðer"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brothir"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brothur"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "broiþer"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "bruther"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brodir"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brothre"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "broþre"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brodyr"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
      "tags": [
        "Ormulum"
      ],
      "word": "broþerr"
    }
  ],
  "word": "brother"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English doublets",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Pages with 5 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Crafts",
    "enm:Directives",
    "enm:Male family members",
    "enm:Monarchy",
    "enm:Religion"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "en",
            "2": "brother"
          },
          "expansion": "English: brother",
          "name": "desc"
        },
        {
          "args": {},
          "expansion": "(see there for further descendants)",
          "name": "see desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "English: brother (see there for further descendants)"
    },
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "sco",
            "2": "brither",
            "3": "bruther",
            "4": "broder",
            "5": "bruder"
          },
          "expansion": "Scots: brither, bruther, broder, bruder",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "Scots: brither, bruther, broder, bruder"
    },
    {
      "depth": 1,
      "templates": [
        {
          "args": {
            "1": "yol",
            "2": "brover",
            "alts": "1"
          },
          "expansion": "Yola: brover, brower",
          "name": "desc"
        }
      ],
      "text": "Yola: brover, brower"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "brōþor"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English brōþor",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*brōþer"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *brōþer",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*brōþēr"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *brōþēr",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*bʰréh₂tēr"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "frere"
      },
      "expansion": "Doublet of frere",
      "name": "doublet"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Old English brōþor, from Proto-West Germanic *brōþer, from Proto-Germanic *brōþēr, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr. Doublet of frere.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "brether",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brethren",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brotheren",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brothers",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brother",
      "tags": [
        "genitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brothers",
      "tags": [
        "genitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "nouns",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "brother",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "gen": "brother",
        "gen2": "brothers",
        "pl": "brether",
        "pl2": "brethren",
        "pl3": "brotheren",
        "pl4": "brothers",
        "pl4_qual": "rare"
      },
      "expansion": "brother (plural brether or brethren or brotheren or (rare) brothers, genitive brother or brothers)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "brotherhede"
    },
    {
      "word": "brother-in-lawe"
    },
    {
      "word": "brotherles"
    },
    {
      "word": "brotherly"
    },
    {
      "word": "brotherwort"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "Now, brother Walter, my brother / by way of blood relation / and my brother in Christendom / through baptising and through faith […]",
          "ref": "c. 1200, Ormin, “Dedication”, in Ormulum, lines 1–4:",
          "text": "Nu bꝛoþerr Wallterr bꝛoþerr min / Affterr þe flæſheſſ kinde / ⁊ broþerr min i Criſſtendom / Þurrh fulluhht ⁊ þurrh trowwþe […]",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A brother or brother-in-law; a male sibling."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "brother",
          "brother#English"
        ],
        [
          "brother-in-law",
          "brother-in-law"
        ],
        [
          "male",
          "male"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "english": "I, John, your brother and partner in tribulation, the Kingdom, and endurance in Jesus Christ, was on an island that's called Patmos for the word of God and for the witnessing of Jesus.",
          "ref": "c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Apocalips 1:9, page 117v, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:",
          "text": "I ioon ȝoure bꝛoþer ⁊ partener in tribulacioun ⁊ kingdom ⁊ pacience in criſt iheſu .· was in an ile þat is clepid pathmos · foꝛ þe woꝛd of god · ⁊ foꝛ þe witneſſyng of iheſu",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A (Christian) man (i.e. as a \"brother in life/brother in Christ\")."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Christian",
          "Christian"
        ],
        [
          "man",
          "man"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A blood brother; one in a mutual pact of loyalty between two."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "blood brother",
          "blood brother"
        ],
        [
          "loyalty",
          "loyalty"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Another member of a religious community or order (when one is a member)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "member",
          "member"
        ],
        [
          "community",
          "community"
        ],
        [
          "order",
          "order"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Another member of a guild or craft association (when one is a member)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "member",
          "member"
        ],
        [
          "guild",
          "guild"
        ],
        [
          "craft",
          "craft"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A male individual who one has a close platonic relationship with."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "platonic",
          "platonic"
        ],
        [
          "relationship",
          "relationship"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "One of one's peers as a ruler; (another) ruler."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "ruler",
          "ruler"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) One of one's peers as a ruler; (another) ruler."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A relative or family member who is a man."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "relative",
          "relative"
        ],
        [
          "man",
          "man"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) A relative or family member who is a man."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses",
        "enm:Alchemy"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Something similar to something else."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "alchemy",
          "alchemy"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare, alchemy) Something similar to something else."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "alchemy",
        "pseudoscience"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈbroːðər/"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "broþer"
    },
    {
      "word": "broþir"
    },
    {
      "word": "broþur"
    },
    {
      "word": "broder"
    },
    {
      "word": "broðer"
    },
    {
      "word": "brothir"
    },
    {
      "word": "brothur"
    },
    {
      "word": "broiþer"
    },
    {
      "word": "bruther"
    },
    {
      "word": "brodir"
    },
    {
      "word": "brothre"
    },
    {
      "word": "broþre"
    },
    {
      "word": "brodyr"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "Ormulum"
      ],
      "word": "broþerr"
    }
  ],
  "word": "brother"
}

Download raw JSONL data for brother meaning in Middle English (6.3kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-11-06 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-10-02 using wiktextract (fbeafe8 and 7f03c9b). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.