freemason
pronunciation
How to pronounce freemason in British English:
UK ['fri:meɪsn]
How to pronounce freemason in American English:
US [ˈfriːmeɪsn]
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- Noun:
- a member of a widespread secret fraternal order pledged to mutual assistance and brotherly love
Word Origin
- freemason (n.)
- late 14c., originally a traveling guild of masons with a secret code; in the early 17c. they began accepting honorary members and teaching them the secrets and lore, which was continued into or revived in the 17th century and by 1717 had developed into the secret fraternity of affiliated lodges known as Free and Accepted Masons (commonly abbreviated F. and A. M.). The accepted refers to persons admitted to the society but not belonging to the craft. The exact origin of the free- is a subject of dispute. Some [such as Klein] see a corruption of French frère "brother," from frèremaçon "brother mason;" others say it was because the masons worked on "free-standing" stones; still others see them as "free" from the control of local guilds or lords [OED]. Related: freemasonic.
Example
- 1. Did you know george washington was a freemason jar ?
- 2. James lloyd , 49 , a long-standing freemason who took the footwear of his victims as trophies , was finally caught through advances in dna techniques .
- 3. It 's part of freemason teachings .
- 4. Eu to hold atheist and freemason summit .
- 5. Secret freemason map of europe .