- brotherhood
- equivalent of O.E. brožerrede "fellowship, brotherhood," with ending as in kindred; in early M.E. the word was brotherhede with ending as in maidenhead. The modern word, with -hood, is from 15c. Originally "relationship of a brother," also "friendly companionship." Concrete sense of "an association, a fraternity" is from mid-14c. in the ME word (later also "labor union," 1880s). O.E. also had brošorscipe "brothership."