Main Entry: con·fra·ter·ni·ty

Pronunciation: \ˌkän-frə-ˈtər-nə-tē\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English confraternite, from Medieval Latin confraternitat-, confraternitas, from confrater fellow, brother, from Latin com- + frater brother — more at brother

Date: 15th century

1 : a society devoted especially to a religious or charitable cause
2 : fraternal union