confrere

See also: confrère

English

Alternative forms

• confrère

Etymology

From Old French confrere, from Latin confrāter.

The word which was originally only used for the second sense became obsolete in the 17th century and reappeared in the mid 18th century as a re-borrowing of Modern French confrère whence the first sense is from.

Noun

confrere (plural confreres)

1. A colleague or fellow, especially a professional one.
   • 2008 February 18, Michael Sheehan, Wordmall:

     Unfortunately, when it comes to the informant who turns state’s evidence against a confrere, the OED slaps on the obscure origin label.

2. A fellow member of a religious organization, referring especially to Catholic religious orders of men.
   • 2012, Timothy J. Johnson, Franciscans and Preaching: Every Miracle from the Beginning of the World Came about Through Words, page 82:

     Roger Bacon had little reverence for their Franciscan confrere, Alexander of Hales...

   • 2015, John Marenbon, Medieval Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, page 58:

     ... but there was a limited number of magisterial chairs, and so, after a couple of years, the Dominican and Franciscan Masters had to stand aside for the next confrere in line.

Anagrams

• enforcer, reconfer