fraternity
UK[frəˈtɜː.nə.ti]US[frəˈtɝː.nə.t̬i]
n
a group of people sharing a common profession or interests.
n
a feeling of friendship and support between people.
n
a social organization of male students at a us college or university.
Morpheme Breakdown
frater
nity
frater
brother
nity
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'fraternity' originates from the latin 'fraternitas', which itself is derived from 'frater', meaning 'brother'. this latin root can be traced further back to the proto-indo-european bʰréh₂tēr, a term for a male sibling. the suffix '-nity' (from latin -nitas) transforms the concrete noun into an abstract noun denoting a state or quality. thus, the literal meaning "the state of being brothers" evolved metaphorically to signify any close-knit group bound by shared interests, support, or purpose, such as a professional association or a collegiate brotherhood.
Analysis
Structure: frater (brother) + nity (noun suffix)
frater (latin origin, meaning 'brother', functions as the core root). nity (from latin -nitas, a noun-forming suffix indicating a state or condition, functions as a suffix).
Examples
there is a strong spirit of fraternity among the members of the expedition.
he was a member of the medical fraternity.
she decided to rush a fraternity during her freshman year.