Our Sponsors
Technical TranslationDenver Colorado ArchitectWebsite TranslationCustom Silicone WristbandsClip Art
brethren
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1
brethren
by drsved » Fri Aug 24, 2012 1:50 pm
Someone today wrote, "She was a true brethren to us all." When I objected, two people responded "Well, better than cistern." I said that was less of a problem to me than using it as a single noun. "We were among her brethren" would have been OK....
Margie Sved
- drsved
- Junior Lexiterian
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:25 am
Re: brethren
by Perry Lassiter » Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:26 pm
Agreed. Never heard it used like that. I would have expected, "She was a true sister to us all." Maybe a local-ism or from a group with brother or brethren in the name?
pl
- Perry Lassiter
- Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 1486
- Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:41 pm
- Location: RUSTON, LA
Re: brethren
by Slava » Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:09 pm
Brethren/cistern is, of course, an oldie, though I don't think I've ever heard of it actually being used. Wouldn't it be Sistren, anyway?
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
-
Slava - Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 3751
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
- Location: Finger Lakes, NY
Re: brethren
by Philip Hudson » Sat Aug 25, 2012 6:45 pm
Yes Slava, it would be Sistren, and it has had wide usage in a humerous vein since I was a tad. Here is another area where sexism/antisexism is encroaching on our language.
- Philip Hudson
- Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 1133
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:41 am
- Location: Texas
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Return to Good Word Suggestions
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests