Refraction
/rɪˈfræk.ʃən/noun
The bending of light, sound, or a wave as it passes from one medium to another.
Did you know?Refraction is built from Latin re- plus frangere, the same root behind fracture, fragile, and break, so the science word carries a hidden “broken again” energy.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰreg-
“to break”
Latin
Latin
frangere
“to break”
Latin
Latin
refringere
“to break back, shatter, or bend back”
Late Latin
Latin
refractionem
“a breaking back; bending of rays”
Middle English
English
refraction
“the bending or turning back of something, especially light”
Modern English
English
refraction
“the bending of light, sound, or a wave as it passes from one medium to another”