fragileadj.
/ˈfradʒʌɪl/, /ˈfradʒɪl/, U.S. /ˈfrædʒəl/ 1.
a. Liable to break or be broken; easily snapped or shattered; in looser sense, weak, perishable, easily destroyed. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > weakness > [adjective] > brittle or fragile
bricklec1225
froughc1275
brisel1303
brocklec1315
brittlea1382
fraila1382
brotelc1384
frangiblec1440
frushing1488
bruckle1513
brash1566
breakable1570
weak1581
glassya1591
brake1600
frushy1610
fragilea1616
kexy1641
brickly1670
cracky1725
fractile1727
frush1802
slattery1829
crackable1862
snappable1866
smashable1884
spaulty1895
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) v. ii. 86 Throwes That Natures fragile Vessell doth sustaine In lifes vncertaine voyage. View more context for this quotation
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §841 Of Bodies, some are Fragile; and some are Tough, and not Fragile.
1668 J. Denham Poems 183 When subtle Wits have spun their thred too fine, 'Tis weak and fragile like Arachnes line.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iii. 387 Much ostentation vain of fleshly arm, And fragile arms. View more context for this quotation
1756 Blacklock Soliloquy 281 Secure, thy steps the fragile board could press.
1832 G. R. Porter Treat. Manuf. Porcelain & Glass 248 Threads..render the material [glass] extremely fragile.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xxvii. 356 We found the spot..hemmed in by loose and fragile ice.
b. Of persons, etc.: Of weak or tender frame or constitution, delicate (= frail adj., but used with an allusion to the primary sense).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak > of constitution
neshOE
tender?c1225
softa1387
delicatea1398
nicec1450
slendera1500
weak?1523
dainty1562
fine1562
cockney1573
weakly1577
dough-baked1592
lax1732
flimsy1742
lax-fibred1762
doughy1763
dauncy1846
fragile1858
slim1877
chétif1908
1858 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) III. xvii. 435 The..people saw as yet but a single fragile life between the country and a disputed succession.
1883 ‘Ouida’ Wanda I. 43 An old lady, so delicate..so pretty and so fragile.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > erring > [adjective] > inclined to be
sprethc1315
fraila1340
labile1447
fragilea1513
lapsing1667
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [adjective] > morally weak
fraila1340
fragilea1513
frailfula1542
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xvii. sig. f.iiiiv More lyke an angell..Than a fragyll mayde, of sensuall appetyte.
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xxvi. sig. i.v A wanton prynce, folowynge sensualyte And his fragyll appetyte.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxlviijv Suche is the blyndnes, of our fraile and fragile nature, euer geuen to carnal concupiscence.
3. quasi-n. in plural = fragile articles or goods.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > weakness > [noun] > brittleness or fragility > fragile articles
breakables1820
frangible1824
fragile1882
1882 Pall Mall Gaz. 19 June 10/1 Cases..marked..‘Fragiles’.
Derivatives
ˈfragilely adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > weakness > [adverb] > in a brittle or fragile manner
brittlely1574
frushingly1659
fragilely1864
1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Fragilely.
ˈfragileness n.
ΚΠ
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Fragileness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1513