Break
/breɪk/noun
To separate into parts or pieces, often suddenly or violently.
Did you know?In Old English, 'brecan' not only meant to break but was also associated with the idea of shattering boundaries, both physical and metaphysical.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bher-
“To carry or to break apart.”
Old English
Old English
brecan
“To break, shatter, or destroy.”
Middle English
Middle English
brechen
“To cause to break; also to interrupt.”
14th Century
Middle English
broke
“Past participle of breken, to have shattered or fractured.”
Modern English
English
break
“To separate into pieces or cause to cease functioning.”