Main Entry:

sis·ter

Pronunciation:

\ˈsis-tər\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English suster, sister, partly from Old English sweostor and partly from Old Norse systir sister; akin to Latin soror sister, Sanskrit svasṛ

Date:

before 12th century

1: a female who has one or both parents in common with another2often capitalized a: a member of a women's religious order (as of nuns or deaconesses) ; especially : one of a Roman Catholic congregation under simple vows b: a girl or woman who is a member of a Christian church3 a: a girl or woman regarded as a comrade b: a girl or woman who shares with another a common national or racial origin ; especially : a black girl or woman4: one that is closely similar to or associated with another <sister schools> <sister cities>5chiefly British : nurse6 a: girl, woman b: person —usually used in the phrase weak sister7: a member of a sorority