Confraternity
/ˌkɒn.frəˈtɜː.nə.ti/noun
A brotherhood or society, especially a religious one.
Did you know?Confraternities were often lay religious brotherhoods, and their Latin root frater also gives us fraternity, friar, and even the ancient idea of sworn brotherhood.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰréh₂tēr
“brother”
Latin
Latin
frāter
“brother”
Late Latin
Latin
confrāternitās
“brotherhood; fellowship”
Old French
Old French
confraternité
“brotherhood, especially a religious association”
14th Century
English
confraternite
“a brotherhood or religious society”
Modern English
English
confraternity
“a brotherhood or society, especially a religious one”
Explore more surprising origins