phratries

Variant of phratry

noun pl. phratries

  1. a subdivision of an ancient Greek phyle
  2. any of the similar units, as a group of clans, of a primitive tribe

Origin: Gr phratria < phratēr, akin to L frater, brother

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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