fragilis Latin · revision 31609

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=170–c. 90 BC, Accius|origins=la frangō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈfra.ɡɪ.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈfraː.d͡ʒi.lis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fragilis''' (neuter fragile, comparative fragilior); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ The ablative singular is ''fragilī''; the vulgar spelling ''fragele'' appears in an inscription.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|frangō|-ilis|t1=to break]],^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) from [[itc-pro|*fragelis]] according to Wiktionary.^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives ⟨frangō⟩ from [[itc-pro|*frang-]], a nasal present [[ine-pro|*bʰr-n-ǵ-|t=to break]], cognate with [[got|𐌱𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽|tr=brikan|t=to break]] and [[goh|brehhan|t=to break]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL and Köbler date it from Accius,^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010) who has the superlative;^(OLD 2012) de Vaan gives Lucretius as its first author.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of things it is liable to break, brittle: Virgil's boy could just reach the brittle branches from the ground.^(OLD 2012) Virgil also uses it of laurels that crackle in the fire.^(OLD 2012) It came to be used of what is weak or frail, as Horace's frail boat entrusted to a savage sea, of the mind and of the frail years of age.^(OLD 2012) Of circumstances it is unsure and passing: Cicero says nothing is so fragile as the goodwill of the citizens.^(OLD 2012) Lewis and Short note that the figurative uses are especially frequent.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Church Latin uses it for weak, frail.^(Stelten 1995) English has it twice: [[m|en|frail]] (mid-14th century) through Old French ''fraile'', and [[m|en|fragile]], first “liable to sin” (1510s) and “liable to break” about 1600.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil of brittle branches and crackling laurels.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the frailty of goodwill.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English [[m|en|frail]], through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1510s – English [[m|en|fragile]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Easily broken, [[m|en|brittle]], [[m|en|fragile]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Crackling, snapping.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Weak, flimsy, [[m|en|frail]]; of the mind, unstable; of life, marked by frailty.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Not lasting, uncertain, [[m|en|transient]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fragilitās]]

+ * [[īnfragilis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fractiō]]

+ * [[fractor]]

+ * [[fractūra]]

+ * [[fragēscō]]

+ * [[fragmen]]

+ * [[fragmentum]]

+ * [[fragor]]

+ * [[frangō]]

+ * [[en|fragile]]

+ * [[en|frail]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}