What does frangō mean in Latin?

frangō, a verb, means “to break, shatter; to break, shatter (a promise, a treaty, someone's ideas (dreams, projects), someone's spirit); to break up into pieces (a war from too many battles, a nation)”.

What are the principal parts of frangō?

frangō, frangere, frēgī, frāctum (third conjugation).

How do you pronounce frangō?

In classical Latin, [ˈfraŋ.ɡoː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈfraŋ.ɡo].

Which English words come from frangō?

English words that go back to Latin frangō include fret, infrangible, fraction, fragment, fracture and fragile.

verbthird conjugation

frangō

frangō (present infinitive frangere, perfect active frēgī, supine frāctum)

Classical[ˈfraŋ.ɡoː]Ecclesiastical[ˈfraŋ.ɡo]

№ 345 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary

Meaning

to break, shatter
Acceptis autem quinque panibus et duobus piscibus, respexit in caelum et benedixit illis, et fregit et distribuit discipulis suis, ut ponerent ante turbas.Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.c. 347 CE – 420 CE, Hieronymus, Vulgate Lucas.9.16
figurativelyto break, shatter (a promise, a treaty, someone's ideas (dreams, projects), someone's spirit)
figurativelyto break up into pieces (a war from too many battles, a nation)
figurativelyto reduce, weaken (one's desires, a nation)

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

in partēs rumpō rem dūram; saxum vel lignum frangitur.

frangō -ere frēgī — in Mille Verba, Circus Maximus

rumpō; animum vincō

frangō -ere — in IVLIANVS I: Gallia, ch. 21

rumpō

frangō -ere, frēgī — in IVLIANVS I: Gallia, ch. 8

in partēs rumpō

break

frangō -ere — in De Bello Gallico I and De Bello Gallico III, ch. 22

rumpō

break

frangō -ere, frāctus — in De Bello Gallico II, ch. 14, 18

in partēs dīvidō

frangō -ere — in Evangelium secundum Matthaeum, ch. 12, 24

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Frangere · Rumpere · Divellere

1. Frangere (ῥῆξαι? or σφαράξαι) denotes to break to pieces what is hard; rumpere (from ῥέπω, ῥόπαλον,) to rend to pieces what is flexible. Cato ap. Prisc. Si quis membrum rupit, aut os fregit: for by breaking a limb, not the invisible bones, but the visible flesh, is rent asunder. When, however, rumpere is applied to any thing hard, it involves the notion of exertion employed, and of danger; the frangens breaks to pieces what is entire; the rumpens rends to pieces what is obstructive. 2. Disrumpere and diffringere mean to rend to pieces, and break to pieces, what was originally entire; whereas divellere (διέλκειν) to tear asunder what was at first joined together. (v. 321.)

Conjugation conjugation 3

active indicative
form	present	imperfect	future	perfect	pluperfect	fut. perfect
1st sg.	frangō	frangēbam	frangam	frēgī	frēgeram	frēgerō
2nd sg.	frangis	frangēbās	frangēs	frēgistī	frēgerās	frēgeris
3rd sg.	frangit	frangēbat	franget	frēgit	frēgerat	frēgerit
1st pl.	frangimus	frangēbāmus	frangēmus	frēgimus	frēgerāmus	frēgerimus
2nd pl.	frangitis	frangēbātis	frangētis	frēgistis	frēgerātis	frēgeritis
3rd pl.	frangunt	frangēbant	frangent	frēgērunt frēgēre	frēgerant	frēgerint

active subjunctive

active subjunctive
form	present	imperfect	perfect	pluperfect
1st sg.	frangam	frangerem	frēgerim	frēgissem
2nd sg.	frangās	frangerēs	frēgerīs	frēgissēs
3rd sg.	frangat	frangeret	frēgerit	frēgisset
1st pl.	frangāmus	frangerēmus	frēgerīmus	frēgissēmus
2nd pl.	frangātis	frangerētis	frēgerītis	frēgissētis
3rd pl.	frangant	frangerent	frēgerint	frēgissent

passive indicative

passive indicative
form	present	imperfect	future
1st sg.	frangor	frangēbar	frangar
2nd sg.	frangeris frangere	frangēbāris frangēbāre	frangēris frangēre
3rd sg.	frangitur	frangēbātur	frangētur
1st pl.	frangimur	frangēbāmur	frangēmur
2nd pl.	frangiminī	frangēbāminī	frangēminī
3rd pl.	franguntur	frangēbantur	frangentur

passive subjunctive

passive subjunctive
form	present	imperfect
1st sg.	frangar	frangerer
2nd sg.	frangāris frangāre	frangerēris frangerēre
3rd sg.	frangātur	frangerētur
1st pl.	frangāmur	frangerēmur
2nd pl.	frangāminī	frangerēminī
3rd pl.	frangantur	frangerentur

imperative

imperative
form	active	passive
pres. 2nd sg.	frange	frangere
pres. 2nd pl.	frangite	frangiminī
fut. 2nd sg.	frangitō	frangitor
fut. 3rd sg.	frangitō	frangitor
fut. 2nd pl.	frangitōte	—
fut. 3rd pl.	franguntō	franguntor

infinitives & participles

infinitives & participles
form	active	passive
present infinitive	frangere	frangī
perfect infinitive	frēgisse	frāctum esse
future infinitive	frāctūrum esse	frāctum īrī
present participle	frangēns frangente, frangentem, frangentēs, frangentī, frangentia, frangentibus, frangentis, frangentīs, frangentium	—
perfect participle	—	frāctus frācta, frāctā, frāctae, frāctam, frāctārum, frāctās, frācte, frāctī, frāctīs, frāctō, frāctōrum, frāctōs
future participle	frāctūrus frāctūra, frāctūrā, frāctūrae, frāctūram, frāctūrārum, frāctūrās, frāctūre, frāctūrī, frāctūrīs, frāctūrō, frāctūrōrum, frāctūrōs, frāctūrum	frangendus frangundus

gerundfrangendī, frangendō, frangendumsupinefrāctum, frāctū

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

fidem frangere: to break one's word.
pacem dirimere, frangere: to break the peace.
fidem laedere, violare, frangere: to break one's word.
calor se frangit (opp. increscit): the heat is abating.
foedus frangere, rumpere, violare: to violate a treaty, terms of alliance.
metu fractum et debilitatum, perculsum esse: to be completely prostrated by fear.
animus frangitur, affligitur, percellitur, debilitatur: their spirits are broken.
cervices (in Cic. only in plur.) frangere alicui or alicuius: to break a person's neck.

frango, frēgi, fractum, 3, v. a. root in Gr. FPAT, ῥήγνυμι, ῥῆγμα, ῥωγαλέος; Goth. Brikkan; Irish brissim; Germ. brechen; Engl. break; but cf. Fick, Vergl. Wörterb. p. 182, and v. the letter F,

I. to break, break in pieces, dash to pieces, shiver, break in two (cf.: rumpo, diffringo).

I. Lit.: hastas frangit quatitque, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 3 (Ann. v. 435 ed. Vahl.); cf.: aes sonit, franguntur hastae, id. Fragm. ap. Non. 504, 33 (Trag. v. 213 ed. Vahl.): fraxinus frangitur atque abies consternitur alta, is broken, felled, id. ap. Macr. S. 6, 2 (Ann. v. 195 ed. Vahl.): simulacra, Lucr. 6, 419: milvo est quoddam bellum quasi naturale cum corvo: ergo alter alterius ubicumque nactus est ova, frangit, Cic. N. D. 2, 49, 125: anulus aureus fractus et comminatus est, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 25, § 56: compluribus navibus fractis, dashed to pieces, Caes. B. G. 4, 29, 3: naves, Hor. A. P. 20: navem is fregit apud Andrum insulam, Ter. And. 1, 3, 17; cf. Auct. Her. 4, 44, 57: domus fracta conjectu lapidum, Cic. Att. 4, 3, 2: janua frangatur, latret canis, Hor. S. 1, 2, 128: patinam, id. ib. 2, 8, 72: lagenam, id. ib. 81: crystallina, Mart. 14, 111: aulas in caput, Plaut. Capt. 1, 1, 21: corpora ad saxum, Verg. A. 3, 625: vindices rerum capitalium laqueo gulam fregere, broke his neck, strangled him, Sall. C. 55, 5: cervices civium Romanorum in carcere, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 57, § 147; id. Vatin. 11, 26: senile guttur parentis impiā manu, Hor. Epod. 3, 2: cerebrum, Verg. A. 5, 413: brachium, Cic. de Or. 2, 62, 253; cf. coxam, Plin. Ep. 2, 1, 5: crus, Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 59: crura, Cic. Phil. 13, 12, 27; Suet. Aug. 67; id. Tib. 44; Vulg. Johan. 19, 31: cornu in arbore, Ov. F. 5, 121: non ego te, tigris ut aspera Gaetulusve leo, frangere persequor, to tear in pieces, Hor. C. 1, 23, 10; cf.: indomitos ut cum Massyla per arva Armenti reges magno leo fregit hiatu, etc., Stat. Th. 11, 28; Val. Fl. 2, 458; Plin. 8, 40, 61, § 150: nubes in montem actae non franguntur, sed circumfunduntur, Sen. Q. N. 2, 28, 2.—

B. Transf., in gen., to break up small, to grind, bruise, crush (freq. since the Aug. per.): glebam bidentibus, Verg. G. 2, 400; glebas, id. ib. 3, 161: fruges robore saxi, Lucr. 1, 882: farra saxo, Val. Fl. 2, 448: hordeum molis, Plin. 18, 7, 14, § 72: granum dentibus, id. 18, 24, 54, § 196: fabam, id. 19, 3, 15, § 40: glandem (sues), Verg. G. 2, 72: testes homini, Plin. 11, 49, 110, § 263: toros, to press, throw one's self upon, Mart. 2, 59, 3; 4, 8, 6: comam in gradus, to twist, braid, Quint. 1, 6, 44: mare montis ad ejus Radices frangit fluctus, breaks, Lucr. 6, 695; cf.: quam (fortunam) existimo levem et imbecillam ab animo firmo et gravi tamquam fluctum a saxo frangi oportere, Cic. Fam. 9, 16, 6: fluctus (scopulus), Luc. 6, 266: undam, Ov. F. 4, 282: aquas, Quint. 9, 4, 7: amnem nando, Luc. 8, 374; cf. Sil. 3, 457; 8, 555: iter, i. e. turn off from it, Stat. Th. 12, 232.

II. Trop., to break down, subdue, weaken, diminish, violate; to soften, move, touch: quem (Viriathum) C. Laelius praetor ita fregit et comminuit ferocitatemque ejus ita repressit, ut, etc., broke down, subdued, Cic. Off. 2, 11 fin.; cf.: fractam illam et debilitatam vim suam, etc., id. Fam. 1, 9, 2: quem series immensa laborum fregerit, Ov. H. 9, 6: nationes frangere domareque, Cic. Prov. Cons. 13, 33: proeliis calamitatibusque fracti, Caes. B. G. 1, 31, 7: victi sumus igitur, aut, si vinci dignitas non potest, fracti certe et abjecti, Cic. Fam. 4, 7, 2: te ut ulla res frangat? would break, shake thy resolution, id. Cat. 1, 9, 22; cf.: frangi metu, cupiditate, id. Off. 1, 20, 68: fractus ac debilitatus metu, id. de Or. 1, 26, 121: flecti animo atque frangi, id. Sull. 6, 18: frangi animo, id. Phil. 2, 15, 37: dolore, id. Fin. 2, 29, 95: misericordiā, id. Att. 7, 12, 3: pudore, id. Tusc. 2, 21, 48 et simil.; cf. also: aliquem auctoritate, id. ib. 1, 21 fin.: aliquem patientiā, id. Brut. 25, 95: quae (vis) summas frangit infirmatque opes, Poët. ap. Cic. Rab. Post. 10, 28: debilitatur ac frangitur eloquentia, Tac. Dial. 39: mollis illa educatio, quam indulgentiam vocamus, nervos omnes et mentis et corporis frangit, Quint. 1, 2, 6: frangitur vox, id. 11, 3, 20; cf. id. 12, 11, 2: vox Auditur fractos sonitus imitata tubarum, Verg. G. 4, 72: et illa (littera), quae est sexta nostrarum (i. e. F) quoties aliquam consonantem frangit, ut in hoc ipso frangit, multo fit horridior, i. e. weakens, Quint. 12, 10, 29 Spald. (v. the passage in its connection); cf. id. 1, 4, 11: primum divisit ineleganter: duo enim genera quae erant, fecit tria: hoc est non dividere, sed frangere, Cic. Fin. 2, 9, 26; cf.: frangas citius quam corrigas, quae in pravum induruerunt, Quint. 1, 3, 12: bellum proeliis frangere, Cic. Prov. Cons. 13, 32: dignitatem, id. Fam. 9, 16, 6: hunc (pedum dolorem) abstinentiā, sanctitate vicit et fregit, Plin. Ep. 1, 12, 5: ut equorum cursum delicati minutis passibus frangunt, Quint. 9, 4, 113: animos frangi et debilitari molestiā, Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 1, § 2: ingenium (mala), Ov. Tr. 3, 14, 33: sublimia pectora (Venus et vinum), id. F. 1, 301: ego unus contudi et fregi exsultantis praedonis audaciam, Cic. Phil. 13, 13 fin.; cf. id. Fragm. ap. Non. 301, 8 (id. Rep. 3, 36 ed. Mos.): furorem et petulantiam alicujus, id. Pis. 14, 31: libidines, id. Leg. 3, 13, 31: odium iramque (risus), Quint. 6, 3, 9: impetum cogitationis (membranae), id. 10, 3, 31: consilium alicujus, Cic. Fam. 4, 4, 4; cf.: sententiam alicujus, id. ib. 1, 4, 1: foedus, id. Pis. 12, 28; id. Scaur. 42: fidem, id. Rosc. Com. 6, 16: jura pudicitiae, Prop. 4 (5), 5, 28. mandata, Hor. Ep. 1, 13, 19: fas, Grat. Cyneg. 451: morantem diem mero (= breviorem reddere), to shorten, Hor. C. 2, 7, 6: vina, i. e. to weaken, dilute, Mart. 14, 103; Plin. 14, 22, 28, § 138: cum frangerem jam ipse me cogeremque illa ferre toleranter, Cic. Fam. 4, 6, 2: nec animus tantis se laboribus frangeret, neque, etc., id. Arch. 11, 29: ante quam calores aut frigora se fregerunt, diminished, abated, Varr. R. R. 2, 2, 18; cf.: Scaevola paulum quiescet, dum se calor frangat, Cic. de Or. 1, 62, 265: fracti aestus et nondum orta frigora, Cels. 7, 7, 4 fin.; cf.: fluctus se frangit, Sen. Med. 392: glacies se frangit, id. Q. N. 4, 5, 4.—Hence, fractus, a, um, P. a., weakened, weak, feeble, faint: jamque adeo fracta est aetas effetaque tellus Vix animalia parva creat, Lucr. 2, 1151: quod me audis fractiorem esse animo, i. e. more disheartened, less courageous, Cic. Att. 11, 12, 4; cf.: spes amplificandae fortunae fractior, id. Lael. 16, 59: in compositione fractus, powerless, feeble, Quint. 12, 10, 12; cf.: quid est tam fractum, tam minutum, tam in ipsa concinnitate puerile? Cic. Brut. 83, 287; and: corruptum et omnibus vitiis fractum dicendi genus, Quint. 10, 1, 125: corrupta oratio maxime comprehensione obscura, compositione fracta consistit, id. 8, 3, 57: effeminata et fracta impudicis modis (musice), id. 1, 10, 31.

Origins

Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg- (“to break”) with the nasal infix *-n-. De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic *frangō and Proto-Indo-European *bʰrn̥ǵ-, but since descendants of this formation are not found in Celtic or Germanic, Schrijver argues it could be a Latin innovation and suggests the original vocalism can't be established.

Borrowings

Englishfract
Englishfracture
Spanishfrangir

Balkano-Romance

Romanianfrânge
Romanianfrângere
Aromanianfrãngu
Aromanianfrãndziri

Ibero-Romance

Portuguesefranger
Portuguesefranzir
Aragonesefrañer
Easternfranderfrom Asturian frañer
Easternfrancerfrom Asturian frañer
Easternfrancirfrom Asturian frañer
Old Spanishfrañer
Old Spanishfrañir

Elsewhere

Italianaffrangerefrom Late Latin adfrangō
Spanishafrechofrom Late Latin adfrangō
Sicilianfragarifrom Vulgar Latin *fragāre
Sicilianfrajarifrom Vulgar Latin *fragāre

Insular Romance

Sardinianfrangere

Italo-Dalmatian

Italianfrangere
Neapolitanfragnere
Sicilianfrànciri
Venetanfranxer
Venetanfranxar

Southern

Occitanfrànherfrom Old Occitan franher
Old Catalanfrànyer

Rhaeto-Romance

Friulianfranzi
Friulianfrangi
Ladinfranjer
Ladinfranje

Northern

Franco-Provençalfraindrefrom Franco-Provençal fraindre
Franco-Provençalfraígnerfrom Franco-Provençal fraindre
Middle Frenchfraindrefrom Old French fraindre

In English words that came into English from frangō

fractionfractio
fragmentfragmentum
fracturefrāctūra
fragilefragilis
frailfragilis
refractoryrefractārius
infringeīnfringō
fragilityfragilitās
saxifragesaxifraga
refractrefrāctum
refractionrefrāctiō
fretfrangō
fractalfractus
frangiblefrangibilis
diffractdiffractus
diffractiondiffrāctiō
infractioninfractio
frailtyfragilitās
infrangiblefrangō
anfractuousanfractuosus
anfractuosityanfractuosus
ossifrageossifraga
infractīnfringō
refringencerefringō