English Explanatory Dictionary

friar

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A member of a mendicant Christian order such as the Augustinians, Carmelites (white friars), Franciscans (grey friars) or the Dominicans (black friars).
  2. A white or pale patch on a printed page caused by poor inking.
  3. An American fish, the silverside.
  4. Such fish prepared as food.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈfɹaɪə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-fryer.wav /ˈfɹaɪɚ/

Word forms

friar friars frier fryar

Etymology

PIE word *bʰréh₂tēr From Middle English frere, from Old French frere, from Latin frāter (“brother”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr (“brother”). Doublet of bhai, brother, bru, frater, pal, and vai.

Synonyms

brother frater

Derived words

black friar curtal friar friarbird friar bird friaress friarhood friarlike friarly Friar Minor Friar Preacher friar's balsam friar's cap friar's cowl friarship friar's omelette friary greyfriar grey friar grayfriar gray friar preaching friar white friar
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