fra

fra¹ between, among

Etymology tree of fra¹

inherited borrowed derived

Latin infra

Italian fra

From the same root · fra¹

Latin inferius ← infra

Pronunciation

• /fra/^[4]

Etymology

The preposition is inherited from Latin īnfrā (“below, beneath”), which lost its first syllable.^[1][5][2][6] In Late Latin it was confused with intrā (“within”), and so took the sense “between” that it shares with tra.^[5][7][6] The Latin word is a contracted ablative feminine of īnferus (“lower, below”), with the word for “side” understood.^[2][4][8] It survives elsewhere in Occitan enfra and in Romansh compounds.^[5][9][10]

Earliest recorded meaning

Zingarelli dates the preposition before 1250.^[3] DELI's first record is Dino Compagni's chronicle, 1310–1312, where it has the same meanings as tra.^[1][2]

Semantic evolution

Tommaseo notes that tra and fra appear in Italian charters from 764, and argues that their sources, “within” and “below”, should keep them apart; usage, however, has merged them.^[11] In Old Italian fra joined the article as frallo, fralla, fralle, like other prepositions.^[6][3] Marco Polo's translator, Boccaccio, Ariosto and Tasso use it for a position between two things or among many.^[6]

In compounds fra- replaces Latin inter- and doubles the following consonant, as in frattanto “meanwhile”.^[12][13] Today the choice between fra and tra is mostly a matter of sound: speakers avoid fra fratelli and tra tre.^[3][14]

Timeline

• 764 – Tra and fra appear in charters.^[11]
• Before 1250 – The preposition is first recorded.^[3]
• 1310–1312 – Dino Compagni uses it as a synonym of tra.^[1]

Meanings

Preposition

1. between, in the space between two points or things: Il paese si trova fra due fiumi.^[15][14][4]
2. among, in the midst of: L'ho riconosciuto fra la folla.^[15][4]
3. In, within (time from now): Ci vediamo fra un'ora.^[3][4]
4. Between, of a relation or comparison: un accordo fra i due governi.^[15][14]
5. Indicating one of a set: fra tutti, eravamo una ventina.^[14]
6. fra sé e sé: to oneself, inwardly.^[3][14]

Word family

• frattanto

fra² friar

Pronunciation

• /fra/^[4]

Forms

fra m (invariable)^[4]

Etymology

The title is a shortened form of frate “friar”, used before a name.^{[1][2][16][4]} The full form continues Latin frāter (“brother”).^[16][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is Iacopone da Todi, who died in 1306: “O fra Ranaldo, do' èi andato?” (O Brother Rinaldo, where have you gone?).^[1][17]

Semantic evolution

Boccaccio's Decameron has Fra Puccio, and Manzoni's I promessi sposi made fra Cristoforo a household name.^[17] Tommaseo noted that in his time the title was given above all to lay brothers, and sounded familiar or slighting when used of friars who were priests.^[11] Some friars are known by the title alone, as Fra Paolo Sarpi.^[11] English uses Fra for Italian friars from the 16th century, and German from 1839.^[18]

Timeline

• Before 1306 – Iacopone da Todi uses fra before a name.^[1]
• 16th century – English Fra is recorded.^[18]
• 1839 – German Fra is recorded.^[18]

Meanings

Noun

1. Brother, the title of a friar, placed before his name, usually a name beginning with a consonant: fra Cristoforo.^{[16][3][15][4]}