Brethren
See also: brethren
English
Etymology
Specific use of brethren as a semantic loan from German Brüder.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈbɹɛðɹən/
Audio (US) (file)
Noun
Brethren pl (plural only)
- (Protestantism) Members of any congregation in the Anabaptist tradition of the Schwarzenau Brethren, practicing credobaptism and committed to nonresistance and nonviolence, some of whom may wear plain dress and shun modern technology.
- (specifically) Members of the Church of the Brethren.
Usage notes
Often used attributively, as in My uncle is a Brethren minister.
Synonyms
- Dunkards
- Dunkers
- German Baptist Brethren
- German Baptists
- Tunkers