breach English · revision 7470

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1208|origins=gem-pro *brekaną}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbɹiːt͡ʃ/ ''(UK)''; /ˈbɹit͡ʃ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English breche,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from a fusion of Old English bræc, a breaking,^(Barnhart 1988) or [[m|ang|bryce|t=a fracture, act of breaking]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) with Old French [[m|fro|breche|t=breach, opening, gap]], from Frankish or another Germanic source.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Both go back to the Germanic base of [[break]], from PIE [[ine-pro|*bʰreg-|alt=*bhreg-|t=to break]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A breaking, gap: breche 1237–38, and earlier in a proper name (1208);^(Barnhart 1988) the physical action of breaking, before 1000 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The breaking of a command, rule or duty is from about 1025 in the OED, already Old English in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) An opening made by breaking is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and a gap in a fortification from the 15th century.^(Hoad 1986) ''Breach of promise'' (usually of marriage) is from the 1580s, ''breach of contract'' from at least the 1660s and ''breach of peace'' from the 1670s.^(Etymonline) A rupture of friendly relations is from the 1570s.^(Etymonline) The verb, to make a breach in, is from 1547.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Of a whale, to leap out of the water, is a later sense.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1000 – a breaking.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1208 – breche, in a name.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – an opening.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1547 – the verb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1570s – rupture of relations.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – breach of promise.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An opening, tear or [[rupture]], especially a gap in a wall or [[fortification]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[violation]] of a law, obligation or promise.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A break in friendly relations.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make a gap in; to break through.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To break an agreement.^(AHD)

+ # Of a [[whale]], to leap from the water.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[breacher]]

+ * [[unbreached]]

+ * [[breach of contract]]

+ * [[breach of promise]]

+ * [[breach of the peace]]

+ * [[breach of trust]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[break]]

+ * [[breakage]]

+ * [[brake]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}