The English Oracle

Where does gender attach in "brotherly/sisterly"?

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Chapters
00:00 Where Does Gender Attach In &Quot;Brotherly/Sisterly&Quot;?
00:16 Accepted Answer Score 14
00:38 Thank you

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Tags
#wordchoice #adjectives #kinshipterms #grammaticalgender

#avk47



ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 14


She would feel a "sisterly love" — the love of a sister — for her brother. A mother feels "motherly love" for her children, etc.

The reason for possible confusion stems from the use of "brotherly love" to describe in a general way the love of human beings for each other, similar to the way "mankind" also includes women.