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character, or tastes. With what terms of respect knaves and sots will speak of their own fraternity! South.

A society or body of men united for some purpose, or in some profession; a brotherhood.

An association for any purpose, as a society of monks; a fraternity.

An organized branch of some society or fraternity as of the Freemasons. Robertson.

olitics. Tennyson. He [Goldsmith] was one of the nine original members of that celebrated fraternity which has sometimes been called the Literary Club, but which has always disclaimed that epithet, and still glories in the simple name of the Club. Macaulay.

One of a fraternity of seculars, also called Penitents.

Fellow member of a fraternity; intimate associate.

A confraternity; a guild. [Obs.] Milton.

e Justice design the victor's chivalry. Shak. Meet me to-morrow where the master And this fraternity shall design. Beau. & Fl.

One of an ancient and secret association or fraternity, said to have been at first composed of masons or builders in stone, but now consisting of persons who are united for social enjoyment and mutual assistance.

movements of a body of infantry, or to make signals at sea; also, the flag of a guild or fraternity. In the United States service, each company of cavalry has a guidon. The pendants and guidons were carried by the officer of the army. Evelyn.

e class, or engaged in kindred pursuits, formed for mutual aid and protection; a business fraternity or corporation; as, the Stationers' Guild; the Ironmongers' Guild. They were originally licensed by the government, and endowed with special privileges and authority.

A member of the fraternity of Freemasons. See Freemason. Mason bee (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of solitary bees of the genus Osmia. They construct curious nests of hardened mud and sand. -- Mason moth (Zoöl.), any moth whose larva constructs an earthen cocoon under the soil. -- Mason shell (Zoöl.), a marine…

A member of a secret order, or fraternity, styled the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, established for mutual aid and social enjoyment.

under the general of his order, has the direction of all the religious houses of the same fraternity in a given district, called a province of the order.

A fellowship or fraternity; a brotherhood.

theatricals,' and `musicals,' invented by the flippant Topham, still survive among his confraternity of frivolity. I. Disraeli.