Etymology Map
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Fragment

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a small broken part

Where does the word "fragment" come from? It comes from Latin fragmentum, adopted directly into English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
fragmentum
Latin · ancient
"broken piece"
from 'frangere', to break
2
Stage 2 of 2
fragment
English · 1400s
"broken piece"
'sentence fragment' dates from the 1900s
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Read the full story

Fragment’s story begins in Latin: fragmentum meant “broken piece.” From 'frangere', to break. It reached English by 1400s as fragment. 'sentence fragment' dates from the 1900s. Today, fragment means a small broken part.