brethren (root: brother)

• POS: Noun Plural
• HYPHEN: breth=ren

CIDE DICTIONARY

brethren, n. 

 pl. of Brother.  [1913 Webster]
" This form of the plural is used, for the most part, in solemn address, and in speaking of religious sects or fraternities, or their members."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

brethren, see BROTHER.

THESAURUS

brethren

assembly, aunt, auntie, blood brother, brother, bub, bubba, bud, buddy, churchgoers, class, congregation, country cousin, cousin, cousin once removed, cousin twice removed, daughter, father, first cousin, flock, fold, foster brother, frater, grandnephew, grandniece, granduncle, great-aunt, great-uncle, half brother, kid brother, laity, laymen, minyan, mother, nephew, niece, nonclerics, nonordained persons, nuncle, nunks, nunky, parish, parishioners, people, second cousin, seculars, sheep, sis, sissy, sister, sister-german, sistern, society, son, stepbrother, stepsister, unc, uncle, uncs, uterine brother

ROGET THESAURUS

brethren

Laity

N laity, flock, fold, congregation, assembly, brethren, people, society, temporality, secularization, layman, civilian, parishioner, catechumen, secularist, secular, lay, laical, civil, temporal, profane.