The state, condition, or community of being a friar; membership in a monastic order of friars.
Compound of 'friar' and '-hood,' a common Old English suffix meaning 'state or condition.' The term parallels similar constructions like 'priesthood,' 'monkhood,' and 'knighthood' to describe membership in a particular social or religious status.
The suffix '-hood' is incredibly productive in English—we can attach it to almost any noun to describe what it's like to be that thing, from 'childhood' to 'neighborhood' to 'friarhood.' This word captures a complete religious lifestyle and community identity in just one word.
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