Brotherhood

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɹʌð.ɚˌhʊd/

Definitions

1. A collective formed by individuals who share values, interests, or pursuits, emphasizing solidarity and support for one another
2. A social connection among individuals that fosters solidarity, emphasizing a sense of belonging and mutual aid
3. An organized group of men united by common interests or goals ; a feeling of mutual support and fellowship among members of a group

Etymology: Old English had a word, "brōþorrǣden", built from "brōþor" (brother) and "-rǣden", a suffix meaning a condition, state or order, so its original sense was closer to "the state of being brothers" than to a club. The second half is the surprise: "-rǣden" is related to "reed" in its sense of counsel or rule, so the word once carried the idea of a bond sworn and kept between kin or companions. Over the centuries the suffix "-red" was gradually replaced by the more familiar "-hood", as in "childhood" and "manhood", and the word settled into its modern form. The "-hood" ending is a helpful clue to how English reshaped the word. Middle English speakers, who had many words ending in "-hede" or "-hood" for states of being, reshaped "brotherred" into "brotherhede" and then "brotherhod", aligning it with those patterns. The meaning drifted with it, from a general fellowship or kinship to a formal association of men, the sense in which the word is most often used today.

Synonyms: fraternity, sisterhood, association, clan

Antonyms: enmity, division