fraternize
verb
Did you know?
O brother where art thou? In many an English word descended from the Latin noun frater, meaning “brother,” that’s where. Both fraternize and fraternal (meaning “of, relating to, or involving brothers”), for example, come to us by way of Medieval Latin from frater. Other frater progeny in English include friar and fraternity. Even brother itself shares a relationship with frater (albeit it a more distant one). These days, although fraternize can still apply to a brotherly association or simple friendliness, it is often used in phrases, such as “fraternizing with the enemy,” implying friendliness toward someone who would be better avoided.
Synonyms
Examples of fraternize in a Sentence
Peter R. Mansoor, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2011
The Vain founders spent time fraternizing around another monument, the glowing M of the local McDonald’s sign.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2024
Lee strikes out in his initial attempts to connect, but Eugene gradually starts fraternizing with him at bars.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2024
Guests can kick their night off, before potentially venturing out, at Azul Rooftop or Bar Hugo Rooftops, fraternizing with young New Yorkers.
—Alex Erdekian, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near fraternize
Cite this Entry
“Fraternize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fraternize. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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