brotherhood

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbɹʌðəˌhʊd/ (UK); /ˈbɹʌðɚˌhʊd/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English brotherhod, altered under the influence of -hood from brotherhede (about 1300),^[2][3] which was in turn altered from Old English brōþorrǣden, with the ending seen in kindred.^[2][3][4] It is formed from brother.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The relation of brothers; brotherly fellowship: before 1300 in the OED, the 14th century in Etymonline.^[5][2]

Semantic evolution

The modern form prevailed from the 15th century.^[2] An association of men for any purpose, a fraternity or guild, is from the mid-14th century (about 1340),^[2][5] the fellowship of Christians from about 1380,^[5] and a labour union, especially an American railway union, from the 1880s.^[2][5] A class of individuals of the same kind is from 1728.^[2][5] The belief that all people should treat one another as equals is a modern sense.^[6]

Timeline

• before 1300 – brotherly relation.^[5]
• c. 1340 – a fraternity or guild.^[5]
• c. 1380 – Christian fellowship.^[5]
• 1728 – a class of the same kind.^[2][5]
• 1883 – a railway union (US).^[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The relationship of brothers.
2. Friendship and mutual support among people; fellowship.
3. An association of men with a common aim, as a fraternity or trade union.
4. All the members of a profession or trade.

Related words

• brother
• sisterhood
• fraternity
• kindred

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins