Fraa

Fraa is a title and form of address used within a Math for male Avout. It precedes a personal name (for example, "Fraa Erasmas") and may also appear generically as "fraa" when referring to a member in general; the plural "fraas" is used for groups. The counterpart honorific for women is "Suur."

First Appearance and Context

In an in‑world dictionary note, Avout are defined as those who have sworn to the Cartasian Discipline—"a fraa or suur." Around a Decennial gate opening during Apert, the title is heard and seen in ordinary use inside the walls and at the river gate as visitors enter; examples include forms such as "Fraa Delrakhones," "Fraa Jesry," and "Fraa Corlandin."

Roles/Actions and Affiliations

• Used throughout the mathic world to identify and address male members of the Avout within a community such as a Decenarian Math.
• Functions both as a formal honorific before a name and as a generic descriptor (e.g., references to "fraas").
• Office‑holders within the hierarchy are addressed with this title when applicable (for example, the Warden Fendant may be styled "Fraa [Name]").
• Observed in collective references alongside its female counterpart during routine work in the concent (e.g., "fraas and suurs"), and applied to office‑holders such as the Warden Regulant (e.g., Fraa Spelikon).
• In major assemblies and shared meals among orders, the title is used widely across doyns, Valers, and servitors; many participants are addressed as "Fraa" in both formal exchanges and informal banter.
• Ceremonial usage: a presiding fraa may deliver remarks during formal rites and auts.

Relationships

• Counterpart honorific: Suur (used for women among the Avout).
• All fraas are members of the Avout; the title is part of everyday usage within a Math.
• Examples: Fraa Erasmas and Fraa Orolo illustrate common usage among teachers and fids, and Fraa Delrakhones shows its use for an office holder. Other examples seen include Fraa Jesry and Fraa Gratho.

Descriptions/Characteristics

• Placement: before the bearer’s personal name.
• Forms: singular "Fraa" (capitalized before a name) and generic "fraa" in lower case mid‑sentence; plural "fraas."
• Variant: occasionally shortened to "Fra" before a name in observed usage.
• Compound/elder form: a respectful elder usage appears as "Grandfraa" (paired with "grandsuur" for women) when referring to seniors.
• Colloquial collective: can be used possessively (e.g., "my fraas") to denote one’s peer group.
• Colloquial singular: possessive "my fraa" can refer to a close colleague or partner.
• Biology/Discipline: It is explicitly stated that fraas are kept sterile by substances in their food so they cannot impregnate suurs; the narration also emphasizes that avout and people outside the walls share the same genetic stock. When avout adopt normal food outside those restrictions, men are not sterile and births resume within their communities.

Current Status/Location

Actively used within the Decenarian Math during Apert and in routine life inside the walls; it is also heard broadly during large, cross‑order gatherings and coordinated operations involving many avout at once. As the Second Reconstitution begins, the title remains in everyday use among avout establishing a new institution named for Saunt Orolo, where fraas and suurs work together on construction and take part in formal ceremonies.