confraternity
noun
a lay brotherhood devoted to some purpose, especially to religious or charitable service.
confraternities
-
pluralof confraternity.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Starting in the 14th century, two Christian confraternities — associations of laypeople — became affiliated with the Colosseum and began putting on representations of the Passion of Christ.
From New York Times ● Jun. 12, 2022
Ms. Rinaldi, the archaeologist, said it was possible that one of the confraternities also commissioned the painting.
From New York Times ● Jun. 12, 2022
He described the present confraternities as "vile, evil groups".
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2020
Traipsing across Venice in search of Tintoretto clarified how thoroughly a Christian faith animated the formal invention of his greatest paintings, which I often found in obscure churches and cash-poor confraternities.
From New York Times ● Nov. 15, 2018
The work developed quickly; confraternities of charity were soon adopted in nearly all the parishes of France and have since extended over the whole Christian world.
From Life of St. Vincent de Paul by F. A. (Frances Alice) Forbes
