fragile

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French fragile, from Latin fragilis, formed on frag-, the root of frangere (“to break”). Cognate with frail (which is an etymological doublet), fraction, fracture.

Pronunciation

• (UK, General Australian, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈfɹædʒaɪl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈfɹædʒəl/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

Adjective

fragile (comparative fragiler or more fragile, superlative fragilest or most fragile)

1. Easily broken or destroyed, and thus often of subtle or intricate structure.

   The chemist synthesizes a fragile molecule.

   The UN tries to maintain the fragile peace process in the region.

   He is a very fragile person and gets easily depressed.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fragilis. Doublet of frêle.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fʁa.ʒil/

• Audio (France, Paris)

  (file)

• Homophone: fragiles

Adjective

fragile (plural fragiles)

1. fragile

Further reading

• “fragile” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• giflera

Adjective

fragile

1. inflected form of fragil

Etymology

From Latin fragilis.

Adjective

fragile (masculine and feminine plural fragili)

1. fragile

Adjective

fragile

1. nominative neuter singular of fragilis
2. accusative neuter singular of fragilis
3. vocative neuter singular of fragilis