frail etymology

Etymology:

  • Middle English: fraile, from Anglo-Norman French fraile, Old French frele, ultimately from Latin fragilis ("brittle, frail")

Meaning:

  • Physically weak or fragile
  • Mentally or emotionally weak
  • Delicate, easily broken or damaged

Origin:

The Latin term fragilis is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root bhreg-, meaning "to break." This root also gives rise to the English words "brittle" and "fragment."

Examples of Usage:

  • "The frail old woman stumbled and fell."
  • "The frail child had a heart condition."
  • "The fragile glass vase could easily be shattered."
  • "His frail ego couldn't handle the criticism."
  • "The government's frail economy was on the brink of collapse."

frail relate terms

  • fragile

    Etymology Latin fragilis Proto Indo European bhreg to break Meaning Br

  • fragility

    Etymology Late Middle English fragilitee from Anglo Norman French fragilitee from La

  • anfractuous

    Etymology Latin anfractus a winding bend Proto Indo European h₂n̥k to ben

  • Brabant

    Etymology The name Brabant is thought to be derived from the Old Dutch words brabant or

  • bracken

    Etymology The word bracken comes from the Middle English word brake which ultimatel

  • brake

    Etymology The word brake has several etymological origins German brechen meaning

  • brake

    Etymology The word brake has several etymological origins German brechen meaning

  • brash

    Etymology The word brash is derived from Middle English brassen which itself is fro

  • breach

    Etymology Old French breche from Late Latin brecha from Celtic of unknown origin M

  • break

    Etymology Middle English breken breken Old English brecan Proto Germanic brekan Pro

  • breccia

    Etymology The word breccia comes from the Italian word breccia which means a breach

  • breeches

    Etymology Middle English breeches from Old English brec plural a garment worn by

  • brioche

    Etymology The word brioche is derived from the Old French word brier which means to

  • chamfer

    Etymology The word chamfer is derived from the Old French word chamfroir meaning t

  • defray

    Defray Etymology Borrowed from Middle French defreier from Old French desfreier desf

  • diffraction

    Etymology of Diffraction The word diffraction is derived from two Latin words Diffra

  • fractal

    Etymology The word fractal derives from the Latin term fractus meaning broken or

  • fraction

    Etymology The word fraction is derived from the Latin word fractio which means a b

  • fractious

  • fracture

    Etymology The word fracture comes from the Latin word fractura meaning a breaking I

  • fragile

    Etymology Latin fragilis Proto Indo European bhreg to break Meaning Br

  • fragility

    Etymology Late Middle English fragilitee from Anglo Norman French fragilitee from La

  • fragment

    Fragment Etymology Late Middle English from Old French fragment from Latin fragmentu

  • frail

    Etymology Middle English fraile from Anglo Norman French fraile Old French frele ul

  • frangible

    Etymology The word frangible is derived from the Latin word frangere meaning to bre

  • infraction

    Etymology From Latin infractio from infringere to break to violate from in

  • infringe

    Etymology Infringe comes from the Middle French word enfraindre meaning to break or

  • irrefragable

    Etymology Latin irrefrangibilis Prefix ir not Root frangere to break Suff

  • irrefrangible

    Etymology Latin irrefrangibilis unbreakable Late Latin infrangibilis unbreakable i

  • naufragous

    Etymology The word naufragous is derived from the Latin word naufragus which is a co

  • ossifrage

    Etymology The word ossifrage is derived from two Latin words Os bone Frango to

  • refract

    Etymology The word refract comes from the Latin word refringere which means to bre

  • refraction

    Etymology The word refraction originates from the Latin word refringere which mean

  • refrain

    Etymology Old French refraindre Medieval Latin refrangere Latin re back frang

  • refrangible

    Etymology The word refrangible is derived from the Latin word refringere which means

  • sassafras

    Etymology Middle English sasfras late 14th century Old French sassafras Latin sass

  • saxifrage

    Etymology The word saxifrage comes from the Latin words saxum meaning rock and

  • suffragan

    Etymology The word suffragan comes from the Latin word suffraganeus which is derived

  • suffrage

    Etymology Middle English suffrage c 1440 Anglo French suffrage 13th century La

  • robust

    Etymology The word robust comes from the Latin word robur meaning oak tree Mean

  • delicate

    Etymology The word delicate comes from the Middle French word délicat which in tur

  • imperfect

    Etymology The word imperfect has an imperfect etymology itself It derives from two Lat

  • infirm

    Etymology The word infirm comes from the Old French word enferme meaning weak or

  • thrush

    Etymology and Meaning The word thrush derives from the Old English term thrysce whi

  • basket

    Etymology The word basket comes from the Old English word bascet or biscet which

  • wake

    Etymology The word wake has Old English roots wæcce noun a nocturnal vigil

  • weight

    Etymology The word weight comes from the Old English word wiht which means a measur

  • stride

    Etymology Middle English stride from Old English stridan to stride Proto Germanic st

  • nervous

    Etymology The word nervous comes from the Latin word nervus meaning sinew or ner