fragmenter

Forms

fragmenter^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French fragment + -er.^[2][3][4][1] The noun fragment was borrowed about 1500 from Latin fragmentum (“splinter, fragment, debris”).^[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded as the past participle fragmenté in Boiste's dictionary in 1808, meaning “broken up into fragments”.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The verb arrived in the early 19th century, after the adjective fragmentaire (1801), and was used of material things divided into pieces as well as of abstract wholes, such as a publication issued in parts.^[3][4][2] Mallarmé, in an 1866 letter, used it of a sum of money split into instalments.^[2] The Académie recorded it in 1932, with the participle in œuvre fragmentée and lecture fragmentée.^[6]

Timeline

• 1808 – The participle fragmenté appears in Boiste's dictionary.^[2][5]
• 1811 – Mozin's dictionary records the verb.^[3][4]
• 1840 – The derived noun fragmentation is first recorded.^[7]
• 1845–1846 – The infinitive appears in the supplement to Bescherelle's dictionary.^[2][5]
• 1866 – Mallarmé uses it in a letter.^[2]
• 1932 – The Académie française records it.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. (transitive) To break or divide into fragments, usually unequal parts: fragmenter un rocher, fragmenter la parution d'un roman.^[8][4][2]
2. (reflexive) se fragmenter: to break up into fragments.^[8][9]

Word family

• fragmentation

Related words

• fragment
• fragmentaire
• Latin fragmentum

Usage notes

The past participle is common as an adjective: œuvre fragmentée.^[6][9] Near synonyms are diviser, fractionner, morceler and segmenter.^[4][8]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Académie française (1932–1935), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 8th ed., Paris: Hachette
7. ^ 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, p. fragmentation
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette