Middle English Dictionary Entry
fraternitẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fraternitẹ̄ n. |
| Etymology | OF fraternité & L frāternitāt-em. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A body of men organized for religious or devout purposes, a religious order or society; (b) membership in a religious order; (c) lettre of ~, a letter granted by such a religious order to a brother or to a benefactor, entitling the holder to special privileges and benefits.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.181 : Þauh þou be founden in Fraternite a-mong þe foure Ordres.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.188 : Þe templers & þer fraternite.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.55 : Freres wil þe louye, And fecche þe to her fraternite.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)62 : If ȝe list þat þis books..May be receyued in your fraternyte.
- (1454-5) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15147 : Sir John Gower, Priest, late dede, of the Fraternyte of Seynt John Baptist founded withyn this church.
- (1470) LRed Bk.Bristol2.133 : The Maister of Bredernhede of seynt John Baptist with the ffraternite of the same hath a litill newe howse in the hye strete.
b
- (1454) EEWills132/24 : Y bequethe to the wursshipful Monasteryes of Cristchirch of Caunterbury..lx s..in remembraunce of my Fraternite.
c
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)97 : Freris distrien the comouns..bi fals flateringe and letters of fraternite, which Crist and his apostlis vsiden neuere.
- (1443) Will York in Sur.Soc.30131 : I bequethe...the Convent of Beauvall xx s. with my letter of fraternite.
- a1500(a1400) Wycl.FHC (NC 95)353 : But freres seyn opunly by letteres of here fraternite, þat þei ȝuyen þer breþeren leue to haue part of þer blis.
- ?1536(1402) Jack Upland (Gough)198/246 : Why be ye so hardy to graunte by letters of fraternite to men and women, that they shall have part and merit of all your good dedes?
2.
(a) A group of persons associated by some common aim or interest; a secular society or company, a guild; (b) membership in such a company or guild.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.364 : An haberdasshere and a carpenter..they were clothed alle in oo lyueree Of a solempne and a greet fraternytee.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.15 : Alle ye bretheren and sisteren of yis fraternitee.
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)44/10 : A fraternite is bygonne of good men in þe chirche of seint Jame..to noriche more loue bytwene þe bretheren & sustren of þe bretherhede.
- (1419) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)127/2 : The Fraternite of Grocerz.
- a1422 Gild St.Geo.Nrw.(Rwl D.913)452 : Alle men þat arn to ben resceiued into this Fraternite and Gylde.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.173 : Crafftes and Fraternites.
- (1433) EEWills95/8 : The fraternyte of my crafte of cokes.
b
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.50 : He shal lese þe fraternite of þis gilde.
3.
(a) The state of being brothers; bodeli ~; (b) brotherliness, brotherly affection.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1775 : He nom Oure fleissh and verai man becom Of bodely fraternite.
- a1450 The tixt of holy writ (Dgb 102)60 : Ihesu com fro heuene blisse..Hyd vnder flesch..oure fraternite.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Wisd.10.3 : Bi the wrathe of manslaȝter pershede fraternyte [WB(2): brotherhed].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.105 : After broþerhede and fraternite confermed atwene þe kynges..Edmond deide at Londoun.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.12.10 : In þe charitee of fraternytee.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.1544 : With hym to dyne off fraternyte.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)48 : Þe fraternite and þe frenchip whech was mad be twix þe jewis and þe romanes.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)946/11 : For that men mowe no tyme overcom humilite and pacience, therefore was the Rounde Table founden; and the shevalry hath ben at all tymes so hyghe by the fraternite which was there, that she myght nat be overcom.