English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
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adj

brotherly

BRUHTH-uh-lee
adj
1
Showing the warmth, loyalty, or protectiveness typical of a brother.
"He gave his younger colleague some brotherly advice before the interview."

How to Use Brotherly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishKind and protective in the way a brother typically is toward a sibling.

Common pairings
brotherly love brotherly advice

Word Forms

more brotherly comparative, brotherlier comparative, more brotherly comparative, most brotherly superlative, brotherliest superlative, most brotherly superlative

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He gave his younger colleague some _____ advice before the interview.

Etymology

From "brother" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ly", the same pattern as "friendly" or "fatherly".

Rhymes for brotherly

See all rhymes for brotherly →
Definitions: FreeDict original editorial