Brother Jonathan

Brother Broth"er (br[u^][th]"[~e]r), n.; pl. {Brothers} (br[u^][th]"[~e]rz) or {Brethren} (br[e^][th]"r[e^]n). See {Brethren}. [OE. brother, AS. br[=o][eth]or; akin to OS. brothar, D. broeder, OHG. pruodar, G. bruder, Icel. br[=o][eth]ir, Sw. & Dan. broder, Goth. br[=o][thorn]ar, Ir. brathair, W. brawd, pl. brodyr, Lith. brolis, Lett. brahlis, Russ. brat', Pol. & Serv. brat, OSlav. bratr[u^], L. frater, Skr. bhr[=a]t[.r], Zend bratar brother, Gr. fra`thr, fra`twr, a clansman. The common plural is {Brothers}; in the solemn style, {Brethren}, OE. pl. brether, bretheren, AS. dative sing. br[=e][eth]er, nom. pl. br[=o][eth]or, br[=o][eth]ru. [root]258. Cf. {Friar}, {Fraternal}.] 1. A male person who has the same father and mother with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case he is more definitely called a {half brother}, or {brother of the half blood}.

Note: A brother having the same mother but different fathers is called a {uterine brother}, and one having the same father but a different mother is called an {agnate brother}, or in (Law) a {consanguine brother}. A brother having the same father and mother is called a {brother-german} or {full brother}. The same modifying terms are applied to {sister} or {sibling}. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Two of us in the churchyard lie, My sister and my brother. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]

2. One related or closely united to another by some common tie or interest, as of rank, profession, membership in a society, toil, suffering, etc.; -- used among judges, clergymen, monks, physicians, lawyers, professors of religion, etc. ``A brother of your order.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. One who, or that which, resembles another in distinctive qualities or traits of character. [1913 Webster]

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. --Prov. xviii. 9. [1913 Webster]

That April morn Of this the very brother. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]

Note: In Scripture, the term brother is applied to a kinsman by blood more remote than a son of the same parents, as in the case of Abraham and Lot, Jacob and Laban. In a more general sense, brother or brethren is used for fellow-man or fellow-men. [1913 Webster]

For of whom such massacre Make they but of their brethren, men of men? --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{Brother Jonathan}, a humorous designation for the people of the United States collectively. The phrase is said to have originated from Washington's referring to the patriotic Jonathan Trumbull, governor of Connecticut, as ``Brother Jonathan.''

{Blood brother}. See under {Blood}. [1913 Webster]