A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Frater,-tris (s.m.III), dat.sg. fratri, acc. sg. fratrem, abl.sg. fratre, nom.&acc. pl. fratres, gen. pl. fratrum, dat.& abl.pl. fratribus: a brother; “like our word ‘brother,’ as a familiar appellation of friends and lovers; in publicist’s language, an honorary title given to allies: Fratres Arvales, a college of priests; v. arvalis; Frater Solis et Lunae, [brother of the sun and moon] the title of the Parthian kings; (of things) of a like kind” (Lewis & Short); see soror,-oris.

NOTE: the plural of brother (Eng. noun) is brothers; the plural is also ‘brethren’ and refers to the brothers, i.e. members of different religious sects: e.g. Unitas Fratrum, the Unity of Brethren [i.e. Brothers], Bohemian Church, the Moravian Brethren.

in publishing:

- apud Balthasarem et Ioannem Moretos fratres = “at the shop of Balthasar and Joannes Moretus, brothers” (Maxwell 1998).

- impressum est hoc opusculum per Ion. Antonium & Fratres de Sabio = “this little work was printed by Giovanni Antonio da Sabbio and his brothers” (Maxwell 1998).

Eccles. Latin: friar (Eng.noun): = frater,-tris (s.m.III), = ‘brother.’ a member of a mendicant order (Catholic: Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, Augustinians]. “A member of a Catholic ecclesiastical order in service to society, having taken vows of poverty, chastity and obedience (the evangelical counsels). A Monk or nun has taken vows representing a primary committment to a particular community in a particular place [Wikipedia, “Friar” Nov. 2020)]; also synonymous with ‘monk,’ q.v.; see mendicans,-antis (part.B).

Friar minor, pl. friars minor: frater minor, pl. fratres minores; ‘lesser brother;’ “a friar belonging to a division of the Franciscan order that follows the unmodified rule of St. Francis” (WIII).

NOTE: abbrev. Fr. [of a religious order in the Catholic Church].

- Order of Friars Minor Capuchin [= Ital. cappuccino, ‘hood, cowl’]: Ordo Fratrum Minorum Capuccinorum; abbr. O. F. M. Cap., a religious order of Franciscan friars, arising in 1525.