Brother Jonathan

noun

Brother Jon·​a·​than
ˌbrət͟hə(r)ˈjänəthən
chiefly British
: the U.S. personified : the American nation or people
also : a typical American

Word History

Etymology

brother entry 1 + Jonathan (the name); probably from the frequent use of Old Testament given names among the English colonists in America

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Cite this Entry

“Brother Jonathan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Brother%20Jonathan. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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