phratry

American  

[frey-tree] / ˈfreɪ tri /

noun

plural

phratries

1. a grouping of clans or other social units within a tribe.

2. (in ancient Greece) a subdivision of a phyle.

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phratry British  

/ ˈfreɪtrɪ /

noun

1. anthropol a group of people within a tribe who have a common ancestor

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Other Word Forms

• phratral adjective
• phratriac adjective
• phratrial adjective
• phratric adjective
• subphratry noun

Etymology

Origin of phratry

1745–55; < Greek phrātría, equivalent to phrātr-, stem of phrātḗr clansman (akin to brother ) + -ia -y ³

Example Sentences

Each such division has a name, which, when it can be translated, is the name of an animal: in the majority of cases, however, the meaning of the phratry name is lost.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2 "Fairbanks, Erastus" to "Fens" by Various

Traces of this union of immigrants with older inhabitants have been detected in the combination of Zeus Herkeios with Apollo Patro�s as the ancient gods of the phratry.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 8 "Ethiopia" to "Evangelical Association" by Various

The Wolf phratry is represented by three families: the Kágwantān, Tuck-este-nar, and Duck-clar-way-di.

From The Whale House of the Chilkat by Emmons, George T.

In practice, where phratries exist, a man who knows a woman’s phratry name knows whether or not he may marry her.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2 "Fairbanks, Erastus" to "Fens" by Various

The children invariably belong to the phratry of the mother, in this most primitive type.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2 "Fairbanks, Erastus" to "Fens" by Various