Defract
/dɪˈfrækt/noun
An obsolete or rare verb meaning to break or fracture.
Did you know?Defract is easily confused with “diffract,” the scientific term for light bending around obstacles, but their meanings and historical formations are distinct.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰreg-
“To break or fracture”
Classical Latin
Latin
frangere
“To break, shatter, or crush”
Classical Latin
Latin
defringere
“To break off or break apart; formed with de- meaning ‘away’ or ‘apart’”
Late Latin
Latin
defractus
“Broken off or fractured; the past participle of defringere”
Early Modern English
English
defract
“To break or fracture; a rare learned formation”
Modern English
English
defract
“An obsolete or uncommon word meaning to break or fracture”