fragmentation

Forms

fragmentation f (plural fragmentations)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French fragmenter + -ation.^[2][3][4] Wiktionary analyses it as the same verb with the suffix -tion.^[1] The verb, recorded as the past participle fragmenté in 1808 and as an infinitive from 1845–46, is itself from French fragment;^[2][3] the noun was borrowed about 1500 from Latin fragmentum.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLFi's first record is from Pierre Leroux's De l'Humanité (1840), which speaks of the fragmentation du genre humain, the splitting of mankind into separate groups.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Littré defines it simply as the act of fragmenting, a division into pieces.^[6] The GLLF dates the general sense of breaking something into fragments to Larousse in 1872, and its use in geomorphology, for the breaking up of rock into fragments, to the 20th century.^[7] The TLFi illustrates its use for concrete things (the splitting of a gem in cutting, of matter torn from the sun) as well as abstract ones such as the will or public authority.^[2]

In military language a bombe or grenade à fragmentation bursts into many pieces, each of them a projectile.^[4][8] Biology speaks of the fragmentation of a chromosome.^[4][9]

Timeline

• 1808 – The past participle fragmenté of the base verb is recorded by Boiste.^[2]
• 1840 – Pierre Leroux writes of the fragmentation du genre humain.^[2]
• 1872 – Larousse records the general sense, according to the GLLF.^[7]
• 20th century – It becomes a term of geomorphology for the breaking up of rock.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. The act of fragmenting something or of breaking into fragments; the resulting state.^[4][8][9]
2. A division into separate parts: la fragmentation d'un domaine en petites parcelles.^[4][2]
3. (geology) The breaking up of rock, for instance by frost, or by blasting and crushing.^[7][9]
4. (military) Bombe, grenade à fragmentation: one that bursts into many fragments acting as projectiles.^[4][8]
5. (genetics) The breaking of a chromosome.^[4][9]

Related words

• fragment
• fragmenter
• fragmentaire

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
9. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)