a term common to all monks of all orders; founded on this, that there is a kind of fraternity, or brotherhood, between the several religious persons of the same convent or monastery.

Friars are generally distinguished into these four principal branches, viz. 1. Minors, grey friars, or franciscans. 2. Augustines. 3. Dominicans, or black friars. 4. White friars, or carmelites. From these four the rest of the orders descend. See FRANCISCANS, AUGUSTINES, &c.