| 释义 |
fra·ter·ni·ty
\frəˈtərnəd.ē, -ˈtə̄n-, -ətē, -i\ noun
(-es)
Etymology: Middle English fraternite, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French fraternite, from Latin fraternitat-, fraternitas, from fraternus + -itat-, -itas -ity
1. : a group of people associated or formally organized for a common purpose, interest, or pleasure: as
a. : a religious or ecclesiastical brotherhood
b. : a usually organized group of men of the same class, occupation, interest, or pursuit : company, guild : fraternal order
c. : a national or local men's student organization formed chiefly for social purposes having secret rites and a name consisting of usually three Greek letters; also : an organization of alumni who were members of such an organization
d. : a student organization for scholastic, professional, or extracurricular activities; especially : a national honorary organization including students and alumni
< a honorary fraternity >
< a debating fraternity >
2.
a. : the quality or state of being a brother or being brothers : the relationship of a brother or of brothers
b. : the quality or state of being brotherly or very friendly : brotherliness
c. : a brotherly commonness (as of occupation)
< men with a fraternity of interests >
3. : men of the same class, profession, occupation, character, or tastes
< the legal fraternity >
< the racetrack fraternity >
< the despised fraternity of armchair historians — T.S.Brown >
4.
a. : the entire progeny of a single mating
b. : a group of siblings |