brotherly
UK /ˈbɹʌð.ə.li/ · US /ˈbɹʌð.ɚ.li/ adjective, adverb
Forms brotherlier brotherliest
- adjective Of or characteristic of brothers. “brotherly love”
- adverb In the manner of a brother, as a brother, as brothers.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
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 Middle English brotherly, equivalent to brother + -ly (adverbial suffix).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of or pertaining to brothers; such as is natural for brothers; becoming to brothers; kind; affectionate; as, brotherly love.
- adverb Like a brother; affectionately; kindly. "I speak but brotherly of him." Shak.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “brotherly”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details