fragile English · revision 15296

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1513|origins=ine-pro *bʰreg-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfɹæd͡ʒaɪl/ ''(UK)''; /ˈfɹæd͡ʒəl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a back-formation from [[fragility]], influenced by [[frm|fragile]], or a direct borrowing of the French,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[la|fragilis|t=easily broken]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from the root of [[m|la|frangō|t=to break]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*bʰreg-|t=to break]].^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[frail]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Morally weak, liable to sin: 1513 in Barnhart and the OED (fragyll), the 1510s in Etymonline;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1521.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Easily broken is first recorded in Shakespeare's ''Timon of Athens'' (1607),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and the New Oxford dates it to the mid-16th century.^(NODE 1998) Of a person, frail or delicate in health, it is from 1858.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Fragile goods, ''fragiles'', is from 1882.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1513 – morally weak.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1607 – easily broken.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1858 – of frail constitution.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1882 – fragiles, fragile goods.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Easily broken or damaged; [[delicate]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Weak in health or emotionally; [[frail]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Slight or [[tenuous]]: ''a fragile peace''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fragilely]]

+ * [[fragility]]

+ * [[nonfragile]]

+ * [[unfragile]]

+ * [[fragile X syndrome]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fractal]]

+ * [[fraction]]

+ * [[fractional]]

+ * [[fracture]]

+ * [[frail]]

+ * [[frailty]]

+ * [[frangible]]

+ * [[fragment]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}