Fraternity, n.; pl. Fraternities.
Etymology: [F. fraternité, L. fraternitas.]
1. The state or quality of being fraternal or brotherly; brotherhood.
2. A body of men associated for their common interest, business, or pleasure; a company; a brotherhood; a society; in the Roman Catholic Chucrch, an association for special religious purposes, for relieving the sick and destitute, etc.
3. Men of the same class, profession, occupation, character, or tastes. With what terms of respect knaves and sots will speak of their own fraternity! South.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for fraternity; he lists it under association.
Where he writes about it:
The whole body of Freemasons constitute a fraternity; one of their local organizations is called a lodge. — from association