frati

A group of frati walk peacefully through a monastery garden.

Definition

Noun (plural: frati) - A member of a religious order, especially a mendicant order; synonymous with friar.

Usage Examples

Advanced Usage

"Frati" is primarily used in historical or religious contexts, often referring to members of orders such as the Franciscans, Dominicans, or Augustinians.
In some texts, "frati" may appear as an Italian plural form, but in English it is treated as a singular or plural noun without change.

Variants and Related Words

Friar (n): a common English term for a male member of a mendicant religious order.
- The friar preached to the townspeople every Sunday. (A frati who travels and preaches.)

Synonyms

Monk: a member of a religious community living under vows, though monks often live in cloistered monasteries, while friars (frati) may be more active in the world.
Mendicant: a religious person who relies on alms for survival, typical of frati orders.

Related Idioms

There are no common idioms using "frati" directly, but the related term "friar" appears in the idiom:
- "As poor as a church mouse / as poor as a friar": extremely poor.
  - After donating all his savings, he was as poor as a friar. (Very impoverished.)

Phrasal Verbs