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pl. of Brother.

hey 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.

hen the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren. Acts xi. 29. Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study. Bacon. The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability. Macaulay.

are bidden. His spiritual attendants adjured him, as he loved his soul, to emancipate his brethren. Macaulay.

ounds." Shak. He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants. Addison. A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church. Fuller. But you, my brace of lords. Shak.

y intercourse. Shak. Evil company doth corrupt good manners. 1 Cor. xv. 33. (Rev. Ver. ). Brethren, farewell: your company along I will not wish. Milton.

One of the Plymouth Brethren, or of a sect among them; -- so called from John N. Darby, one of the leaders of the Brethren.

Protecting plea; vindication; justification. Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense. Acts xxii. 1.

elings, or purposes. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Prov. vi. 19. Peace to arise out of universal discord fomented in all parts of the empire. Burke.

rtly those of the Quakers; -- called also Tunkers, Dunkards, Dippers, and, by themselves, Brethren, and German Baptists.

nouns, as in ashen, eyen, oxen, all obs. except oxen. In some cases, such as children and brethren, it has been added to older plural forms.

One of the letters in the New Testament which were addressed to their Christian brethren by Apostles. Epistle side, the right side of an altar or church to a person looking from the nave toward the chancel. One sees the pulpit on the epistle side. R. Browning.

Pf, pertaining to, or involving, brethren; becoming to brothers; brotherly; as, fraternal affection; a fraternal embrace. -- Fra*ter"nal*ly, adv. An abhorred, a cursed, a fraternal war. Milton. Fraternal love and friendship. Addison.

ce and the United States, engaged chiefly in teaching and manual Labor. Originally called Brethren of St. Joseph. The Sisters of the Holy Cross engage in similar work. Addis & Arnold. -- Holy-cross day, the fourteenth of September, observed as a church festival, in memory of the exaltation of our Savior's cross.…

law or equity; incompetent evidence. Richard III. had a resolution, out of hatred to his brethren, to disable their issues, upon false and incompetent pretexts, the one of attainder, the other of illegitimation. Bacon.

An amplification without strict climax, as in the following passage: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, . . . think on these things. Phil. iv. 8. Infinite…

Shak. And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren. Acts xviii. 18. French leave. See under French.

To be struck with surprise, astonishment, or wonder; to wonder. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 1 john iii. 13.

legation; an embassy. In these ships there should be a mission of three of the fellows or brethren of Solomon's house. Bacon.

Of or pertaining to Moravia, or to the United Brethren. See Moravian, n.