Added 10 October 2026
brotherly
/ˈbɹʌð.ə.li/ adjective
In Latin: frāternus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about brotherly at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Like or characteristic of or befitting a brother.
brotherly feelings
adverb
Origin
From Middle English brotherly, from Old English brōþorlīċ, from Proto-West Germanic *brōþerlīk, from Proto-Germanic *brōþērlīkaz, equivalent to brother + -ly (adjectival suffix). Cognate with Dutch broederlijk (“brotherly”), German brüderlich (“brotherly”), Swedish broderlig (“brotherly”). Piecewise doublet of friarly.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)