freemasonry

American  

[free-mey-suhn-ree] / ˈfriˌmeɪ sən ri /

noun

1. secret or tacit brotherhood; fellowship; fundamental bond or rapport.

   the freemasonry of those who hunger for knowledge.

2. (initial capital letter) the principles, practices, and institutions of Freemasons.

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Freemasonry ¹ British  

/ ˈfriːˌmeɪsənrɪ /

noun

1. the institutions, rites, practices, etc, of Freemasons

2. Freemasons collectively

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freemasonry ² British  

/ ˈfriːˌmeɪsənrɪ /

noun

1. natural or tacit sympathy and understanding

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Etymology

Origin of freemasonry

First recorded in 1400–50, freemasonry is from the late Middle English word fremasonry. See Freemason, -ry

Example Sentences

Temptingly, he explained that “the theater, behind the scenes, has an emotional freemasonry of its own, certainly franker and arguably wholesomer than the stiffness of suburban society outside.”

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

A retired prosecutor who chased him for years blames unspecified freemasonry circles.

From Reuters • Jan. 18, 2023

Now research from the University of Edinburgh has revealed the origins of the Hogmanay tradition are connected to freemasonry.

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2021

Over the next two centuries, Prince Hall freemasonry snowballed across the United States, becoming the world’s largest fraternity for black men.

From The Guardian • Jul. 2, 2014

There is freemasonry among "hirelings," I think: they know how to protect themselves and their riders.

From Ladies in the Field: Sketches of Sport by Greville, Beatrice Violet Graham