friar

Middle English, from Old French frere, from Latin frater (“brother”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European. Doublet of brother.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfɹaɪɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɹaɪə/
• Rhymes: -aɪə(r)
• Homophones: frier, fryer

friar (plural friars)

1. A member of a mendicant Christian order such as the Augustinians, Carmelites (white friars), Franciscans (grey friars) or the Dominicans (black friars).
2. (printing, dated) A white or pale patch on a printed page.
3. An American fish, the silverside.

• (member of religious order): brother, frater, frater or father

• (member of religious order): sister
• (white patch on a printed page): monk

friar

1. present tense of fria.