Where does “fragment” come from?
Fragment comes from Latin fragmentum, derived from Latin frangere meaning "to break," which traces to Proto-Indo-European bʰreg- with the same sense.
fragment (English): A part broken off; a small, detached portion; an...
Definitions
- A part broken off; a small, detached portion; an...
Ancestry of “fragment”, step by step
fragment traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French fragment
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | fragment | fragment |
| 2 | Latin | fragmentum | a piece (broken off), remnant, fragment |
| 3 | Latin | -mentum | instrument, medium, or result of; e.g.... |
| 4 | Latin | -menta | nominative plural of -mentum; accusative plural... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | -mn̥ | Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs |
via Middle English fragment
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | fragment | a small part or piece; a fragment |