Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SIS'TER, n. [Sax. sweoster; D. zuster; G. schwester; Sw. syster; Dan. söster; Russ. sestra; Pol. siostra; Dalmatian, szesztre; Sans. swasre.]

1. A female born of the same parents; correlative to brother.
2. A woman of the same faith; a female fellow Christian. If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food … – James ii.
3. A female of the same kind. – Shak.
4. One of the same kind, or of the same condition; as, sister–fruits. – Pope.
5. A female of the same society; as the nuns of a convent.