Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “fractional” come from?

Fractional derives from English fraction, which comes from Latin fractio, a noun formed from the root bʰreg- meaning to break.

fractional (English): Pertaining to a fraction; Divided; fragmentary;...

Definitions

  1. Pertaining to a fraction; Divided; fragmentary;...

Ancestry of “fractional”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfractionA part of a whole, especially a comparatively...
2Middle Englishfracciouna breaking
3Occitanfracciona part; fraction
4Latinfractiothe action of breaking; fraction
5Latin-tiō—
6Latindissertātiō—
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “fractional”

  • fractionally
  • fractionalization
  • fractionalize
  • interfractional
  • fractionality
  • multifractional
  • nonfractional
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →