From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Plymouth Brethren \Plym"outh Breth"ren\
The members of a religious sect which first appeared at
Plymouth, England, about 1830. They protest against
sectarianism, and reject all official ministry or clergy.
Also called {Brethren}, {Christian Brethren}, {Plymouthists},
etc. The {Darbyites} are a division of the Brethren.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Dunker \Dun"ker\, prop. n. [G. tunken to dip.]
One of a religious denomination whose tenets and practices
are mainly those of the Baptists, but partly those of the
Quakers; -- called also {Tunkers}, {Dunkards}, {Dippers},
and, by themselves, {Brethren}, and {German Baptists}, and
they call their denomination the Church of the Brethren.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The denomination was founded in Germany in 1708, but
after a few years the members emigrated to the United
States; they were opposed to military service and
taking legal oaths, and practiced trine immersion.
[1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
{Seventh-day Dunkers}, a sect which separated from the
Dunkers and formed a community, in 1728. They keep the
seventh day or Saturday as the Sabbath.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Brethren \Breth"ren\, n.;
pl. of {Brother}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: This form of the plural is used, for the most part, in
solemn address, and in speaking of religious sects or
fraternities, or their members.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Brother \Broth"er\ (br[u^][th]"[~e]r), n.; pl. {Brothers}
(br[u^][th]"[~e]rz) or {Brethren} (br[e^][th]"r[e^]n). See
{Brethren}. [OE. brother, AS. br[=o][eth]or; akin to OS.
brothar, D. broeder, OHG. pruodar, G. bruder, Icel.
br[=o][eth]ir, Sw. & Dan. broder, Goth. br[=o][thorn]ar, Ir.
brathair, W. brawd, pl. brodyr, Lith. brolis, Lett. brahlis,
Russ. brat', Pol. & Serv. brat, OSlav. bratr[u^], L. frater,
Skr. bhr[=a]t[.r], Zend bratar brother, Gr. fra`thr, fra`twr,
a clansman. The common plural is {Brothers}; in the solemn
style, {Brethren}, OE. pl. brether, bretheren, AS. dative
sing. br[=e][eth]er, nom. pl. br[=o][eth]or, br[=o][eth]ru.
[root]258. Cf. {Friar}, {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}.
Note: A brother having the same mother but different fathers
is called a {uterine brother}, and one having the same
father but a different mother is called an {agnate
brother}, or in (Law) a {consanguine brother}. A
brother having the same father and mother is called a
{brother-german} or {full brother}. The same modifying
terms are applied to {sister} or {sibling}.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Two of us in the churchyard lie,
My sister and my brother. --Wordsworth.
[1913 Webster]
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, lawyers, professors of
religion, etc. "A brother of your order." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers,
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother. --Shak.
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3. One who, or that which, resembles another in distinctive
qualities or traits of character.
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He also that is slothful in his work is brother to
him that is a great waster. --Prov. xviii.
9.
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That April morn
Of this the very brother. --Wordsworth.
[1913 Webster]
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.
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For of whom such massacre
Make they but of their brethren, men of men?
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
{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}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
brethren
n 1: (plural) the lay members of a male religious order
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