friar

[ frahy-er ]

/ ˈfraɪ ər /

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noun

Roman Catholic Church. a member of a religious order, especially the mendicant orders of Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, and Augustinians.

Printing. a blank or light area on a printed page caused by uneven inking of the plate or type.Compare monk (def. 3).

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of friar

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English frier, frere “brother,” from Old French frere, from Latin frāter;see brother

synonym study for friar

1. See monk.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH friar

friar , frier, fryer

Words nearby friar

Freytag, F.R.G., F.R.G.S., Fri., friable, friar, friarbird, friarly, Friar Minor, Friar Minor Capuchin, Friar Minor Conventual

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use friar in a sentence

Only five teams33 have a higher win percentage than the Friars.
How Far Can Luck Take A Team? Watch Providence To Find Out.|Josh Planos|March 10, 2022|FiveThirtyEight
His first theater role was as Friar Laurence in a UVA production of Romeo and Juliet.
Ben McKenzie’s Journey From Reluctant Teen Idol on ‘The O.C.’ to Sheriff of ‘Gotham’|Marlow Stern|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He wore the hooded brown habit and sandals of a Franciscan Capuchin friar.
Cardinal O'Malley: Pope Francis Knows Immigrants Are the Future of the Church|Christopher Dickey|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A man in a knit cap called out to the friar on duty, Father Paul Lostritto.
The Pope Francis’ Homeless Fans|Michael Daly|March 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Romney is like the sheriff of Nottingham: all castle, no conviction; which makes Newt Gingrich the earthy Friar Tuck.
Romney and Gingrich Set the GOP on a Path Toward Self-Destruction|John Batchelor|January 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But that kid from Podunk, now unloading freight at the big-box store, is a universe away from Oxford and a Capuchin friar buddy.
Anthony Swofford on America’s Best War Writer, Karl Marlantes|Anthony Swofford|November 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
It is also thought that the book was written by a Franciscan friar for the use of some one in a Benedictine house.
Bell's Cathedrals: A Short Account of Romsey Abbey|Thomas Perkins
It is only,” replies the friar, “to grace and adorn my speech; it is the colour of a Ciceronian rhetoric.
A Cursory History of Swearing|Julian Sharman
A sharp eye was kept on all arrivals from abroad, and a friar, fresh from Portugal, was hanged in his cowl at Limerick.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)|Richard Bagwell
He did not fare so badly either, for being plump and rosy he was allowed to personate the jolly Friar Tuck.
The Story of the Big Front Door|Mary Finley Leonard
Then they had tea in the friar's cell, and afterwards Michael set out to walk back to St. Antoine.
Sinister Street, vol. 1|Compton Mackenzie

British Dictionary definitions for friar

friar

/ (ˈfraɪə) /

noun

a member of any of various chiefly mendicant religious orders of the Roman Catholic Church, the main orders being Black Friars (Dominicans), Grey Friars (Franciscans), White Friars (Carmelites), and Austin Friars (Augustinians)See also Black Friar, Grey Friar, White Friar, Augustinian

Derived forms of friar

friarly, adjective

Word Origin for friar

C13 frere, from Old French: brother, from Latin frāter brother

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

friar

Origin of friar

synonym study for friar

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH friar

Words nearby friar

Words related to friar

How to use friar in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for friar

Derived forms of friar

Word Origin for friar