oddfellow

An oddfellow attends a community meeting in a local hall.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows: "oddfellow" refers to a person who is a member of a fraternal organization known as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), a benevolent and charitable society that originated in 18th-century England.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He has been an oddfellow for over twenty years, actively participating in the lodge's charity events. (A member of the Odd Fellows fraternal order.)
  • The oddfellows gathered at the hall for their annual meeting. (Members of the Odd Fellows organization.)

Advanced Usage

• Historical context: The term "oddfellow" is often used in the context of fraternal societies that focus on mutual aid, community service, and social fellowship. It is not a generic term for a peculiar person but a specific reference to the organization.
  • In the 19th century, many small towns had an oddfellow lodge that served as a community centre. (A local chapter of the Odd Fellows.)

Variants and Related Words

• Odd Fellowship (n): the principles, practices, or organization of the Odd Fellows.

  • Odd Fellowship emphasizes charity, truth, and love among its members. (The ideology of the Odd Fellows.)

• Odd Fellows (n, plural): the members of the order collectively.

  • The Odd Fellows operate a retirement home for their elderly members. (The organization as a whole.)

Synonyms

• Fraternalist: a member of a fraternal organization.
• Brother (in a fraternal sense): a fellow member of a male fraternal society.

Related Idioms

• "To be an odd fellow" (archaic or non-standard): This phrase is sometimes used informally to mean a strange or eccentric person, but this is a separate and unrelated use of the words "odd" and "fellow" and should not be confused with the official term "oddfellow" referring to the fraternal order.
  • He was a bit of an odd fellow, always wearing mismatched socks. (A person who is eccentric.)