archconfraternity

[ ahrch-kon-fruh-tur-ni-tee ]

noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

, plural arch·con·fra·ter·ni·ties.

1. a confraternity having the right to associate itself with confraternities that are similar to it, and to impart to them its privileges and indulgences.

Word History and Origins

Origin of archconfraternity¹

From the Italian word arciconfraternità, dating back to 1630–40. See arch- ¹, confraternity

Example Sentences

More than 200 Milwaukee merchants had launched a cooperative drive, sparked by the "Milwaukee Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers," a Roman Catholic group which has already plastered city buses and streetcars with 1,200 posters bearing its slogan: Put Christ Back Into Christmas.

From Time Magazine Archive