Fragile Frag"ile adjective [ Latin fragilis , from frangere to break; confer French fragile . See Break , transitive verb , and confer Frail , adjective ] Easily broken; brittle; frail; delicate; easily destroyed.

The state of ivy is tough, and not fragile .

Bacon.

Syn. -- Brittle; infirm; weak; frail; frangible; slight.

-- Frag"ile*ly , adverb

Fragility Fra·gil"i·ty noun [ Latin fragilitas : confer French fragilité . Confer Frailty .] 1. The condition or quality of being fragile; brittleness; frangibility. Bacon.

2. Weakness; feebleness.

An appearance of delicacy, and even of fragility , is almost essential to it [ beauty].

Burke.

3. Liability to error and sin; frailty. [ Obsolete]

The fragility and youthful folly of Qu. Fabius.

Holland.

Fragment Frag"ment noun [ Latin fragmentum , from frangere to break: confer French fragment . See Break , transitive verb ] A part broken off; a small, detached portion; an imperfect part; as, a fragment of an ancient writing.

Gather up the fragments that remain.

John vi. 12.

Fragmental Frag·men"tal adjective 1. Fragmentary.

2. (Geol.) Consisting of the pulverized or fragmentary material of rock, as conglomerate, shale, etc.

Fragmental Frag·men"tal noun (Geol.) A fragmentary rock.

Fragmentarily Frag"men·ta·ri·ly adverb In a fragmentary manner; piecemeal.

Fragmentariness Frag"men·ta·ri·ness noun The quality or property of being in fragments, or broken pieces; incompleteness; want of continuity. G. Eliot.

Fragmentary Frag"men·ta·ry adjective [ Confer French fragmentaire .] 1. Composed of fragments, or broken pieces; disconnected; not complete or entire. Donne.

2. (Geol.) Composed of the fragments of other rocks.

Fragmented Frag"ment·ed adjective Broken into fragments.

Fragmentist Frag"ment·ist noun A writer of fragments; as, the fragmentist of Wolfenbüttel. [ R.]

Fragor Fra"gor noun [ Latin , a breaking to pieces, from frangere to break.] 1. A loud and sudden sound; the report of anything bursting; a crash. I. Watts.

2. [ Due to confusion with fragrant .] A strong or sweet scent. [ Obsolete & Illegitimate.] Sir T. Herbert.

Fragrance, Fragrancy Fra"grance, Fra"gran·cy noun [ Latin fragrantia : confer Old French fragrance .] The quality of being fragrant; sweetness of smell; a sweet smell; a pleasing odor; perfume.

Eve separate he spies,
Veiled in a cloud of fragrance .

Milton.

The goblet crowned,
Breathed aromatic fragrancies around.

Pope.

Fragrant Fra"grant adjective [ Latin fragrans . -antis , present participle of fragrare to emit a smell of fragrance: confer Old French fragrant .] Affecting the olfactory nerves agreeably; sweet of smell; odorous; having or emitting an agreeable perfume.

Fragrant the fertile earth
After soft showers.

Milton.

Syn. -- Sweet-smelling; odorous; odoriferous; sweet- scented; redolent; ambrosial; balmy; spicy; aromatic.

-- Fra"grant*ly , adverb

Fraight Fraight adjective Same as Fraught . [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Frail Frail noun [ Middle English fraiel , fraile , Old French fraiel , freel , frael , from Late Latin fraellum .] A basket made of rushes, used chiefly for containing figs and raisins.

2. The quantity of raisins -- about thirty- two, fifty-six, or seventy-five pounds, -- contained in a frail.

3. A rush for weaving baskets. Johnson.

Frail Frail adjective [ Compar. Frailer ; superl . Frailest .] [ Middle English frele , freile , Old French fraile , frele , French frêle , from Latin fragilis . See Fragile .] 1. Easily broken; fragile; not firm or durable; liable to fail and perish; easily destroyed; not tenacious of life; weak; infirm.

That I may know how frail I am.

Ps. xxxix. 4.

An old bent man, worn and frail .

Lowell.

2. Tender. [ Obsolete]

Deep indignation and compassion.

Spenser.

3. Liable to fall from virtue or be led into sin; not strong against temptation; weak in resolution; also, unchaste; -- often applied to fallen women.

Man is frail , and prone to evil.

Jer. Taylor.

Frailly Frail"ly adverb Weakly; infirmly.

Frailness Frail"ness noun Frailty.

Frailty Frail"ty (frāl"tȳ) noun ; plural Frailties (-tĭz). [ Middle English frelete , freilte , Old French fraileté , from Latin fragilitas . See Frail , adjective , and confer Fragility .] 1. The condition or quality of being frail, physically, mentally, or morally; frailness; infirmity; weakness of resolution; liableness to be deceived or seduced.

God knows our frailty , [ and] pities our weakness.

Locke.

2. A fault proceeding from weakness; foible; sin of infirmity.

Syn. -- Frailness; fragility; imperfection; failing.

Fraischeur Frai"scheur noun [ Old French ; F fraicheur , from frais , fem. fraîche , fresh; of German origin. See Frash , adjective ] Freshness; coolness. [ R.] Dryden.

Fraise Fraise noun [ See Froise .] A large and thick pancake, with slices of bacon in it. [ Obsolete] Johnson.

Fraise Fraise noun [ French fraise , orig., a ruff, confer French frise frieze, English frieze a coarse stuff.] 1. (Fort.) A defense consisting of pointed stakes driven into the ramparts in a horizontal or inclined position.

2. (Mech.) A fluted reamer for enlarging holes in stone; a small milling cutter.

Fraise Fraise transitive verb (Mil.) To protect, as a line of troops, against an onset of cavalry, by opposing bayonets raised obliquely forward. Wilhelm.

Fraised Fraised adjective Fortified with a fraise.

Fraken Frak"en noun A freckle. [ Obsolete]

A few fraknes in his face.

Chaucer.

Framable Fram"a·ble adjective Capable of being framed.

Frambæsia Fram·bæ"si·a noun [ French & New Latin , from French framboise raspberry.] (Medicine) The yaws. See Yaws .

Frame Frame transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Framed ; present participle & verbal noun Framing .] [ Middle English framen , fremen , to execute, build, Anglo-Saxon fremman to further, perform, effect, from fram strong, valiant; akin to English foremost , and probably to Anglo-Saxon fram from, Icelandic fremja , frama , to further, framr forward, German fromm worthy, excellent, pious. See Foremost , From , and confer Furnish .] 1. (Arch. & Engin.) To construct by fitting and uniting the several parts of the skeleton of any structure; specifically, in woodwork, to put together by cutting parts of one member to fit parts of another. See Dovetail , Halve , transitive verb , Miter , Tenon , Tooth , Tusk , Scarf , and Splice .

2. To originate; to plan; to devise; to contrive; to compose; in a bad sense, to invent or fabricate, as something false.

How many excellent reasonings are framed in the mind of a man of wisdom and study in a length of years.

I. Watts.

3. To fit to something else, or for some specific end; to adjust; to regulate; to shape; to conform.

And frame my face to all occasions.

Shak.

We may in some measure frame our minds for the reception of happiness.

Landor.

The human mind is framed to be influenced.

I. Taylor.

4. To cause; to bring about; to produce. [ Obsolete]

Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds.

Shak.

5. To support. [ Obsolete & R.]

That on a staff his feeble steps did frame .

Spenser.

6. To provide with a frame, as a picture.

Frame Frame intransitive verb 1. To shape; to arrange, as the organs of speech. [ Obsolete] Judg. xii. 6.

2. To proceed; to go. [ Obsolete]

The bauty of this sinful dame
Made many princes thither frame .

Shak.

Frame Frame noun 1. Anything composed of parts fitted and united together; a fabric; a structure; esp., the constructional system, whether of timber or metal, that gives to a building, vessel, etc., its model and strength; the skeleton of a structure.

These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,
Almighty! thine this universal frame .

Milton.

2. The bodily structure; physical constitution; make or build of a person.

Some bloody passion shakes your very frame .

Shak.

No frames could be strong enough to endure it.

Prescott.

3. A kind of open case or structure made for admitting, inclosing, or supporting things, as that which incloses or contains a window, door, picture, etc.; that on which anything is held or stretched ; as: (a) The skeleton structure which supports the boiler and machinery of a locomotive upon its wheels. (b) (Founding) A molding box or flask, which being filled with sand serves as a mold for castings. (c) The ribs and stretchers of an umbrella or other structure with a fabric covering. (d) A structure of four bars, adjustable in size, on which cloth, etc., is stretched for quilting, embroidery, etc. (e) (Hort.) A glazed portable structure for protecting young plants from frost. (f) (Print.) A stand to support the type cases for use by the compositor.

4. (Machinery) A term applied, especially in England, to certain machines built upon or within framework; as, a stocking frame ; lace frame ; spinning frame , etc.

5. Form; shape; proportion; scheme; structure; constitution; system; as, a frame of government.

She that hath a heart of that fine frame
To pay this debt of love but to a brother.

Shak.

Put your discourse into some frame .

Shak.

6. Particular state or disposition, as of the mind; humor; temper; mood; as, to be always in a happy frame .

7. Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming. [ Obsolete]

John the bastard
Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies.

Shak.

Balloon frame , Cant frames , etc. See under Balloon , Cant , etc. -- Frame building or house , a building of which the form and support is made of framed timbers. [ U.S.] -- Frame level , a mason's level. -- Frame saw , a thin saw stretched in a frame to give it rigidity.

Frame Frame noun In games: (a) In pool, the triangular form used in setting up the balls; also, the balls as set up, or the round of playing required to pocket them all; as, to play six frames in a game of 50 points. (b) In bowling, as in tenpins, one of the several innings forming a game.

Frame-up Frame"-up` noun A conspiracy or plot, esp. for a malicious or evil purpose, as to incriminate a person on false evidence. [ Slang]

Framer Fram"er noun One who frames; as, the framer of a building; the framers of the Constitution.

Framework Frame"work` noun 1. The work of framing, or the completed work; the frame or constructional part of anything; as, the framework of society.

A staunch and solid piece of framework .

Milton.

2. Work done in, or by means of, a frame or loom.

Framing Fram"ing noun 1. The act, process, or style of putting together a frame, or of constructing anything; a frame; that which frames.

2. (Arch. & Engin.) A framework, or a sy... of frames.

Framing chisel (Carp.) , a heavy chisel with a socket shank for making mortises.

Frampel, Frampoid Fram"pel, Fram"poid adjective [ Also written frampul , frampled , framfold .] [ Confer W. fframfol passionate, ffrom angry, fretting; or perhaps akin to English frump .] Peevish; cross; vexatious; quarrelsome. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Is Pompey grown so malapert, so frampel ?

Beau. & Fl.

Franc Franc noun [ French, from franc a Franc. See Frank , adjective ] A silver coin of France, and since 1795 the unit of the French monetary system. It has been adopted by Belgium and Swizerland. It is equivalent to about nineteen cents, or ten pence, and is divided into 100 centimes.

Franc-tireur Franc"-ti`reur" noun [ French, from franc free + tireur shooter, from tirer to shoot.] (Mil.) A French partisan soldier, or one belonging to a corps of detached light troops engaged in forays, skirmishes, scouting, etc.

Franchise Fran"chise noun [ French, from franc , fem. franche , free. See Frank , adjective ] 1. Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

2. (LAw) A particular privilege conferred by grant from a sovereign or a government, and vested in individuals; an immunity or exemption from ordinary jurisdiction; a constitutional or statutory right or privilege, esp. the right to vote.

Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning franchise of the American people.

W. H. Seward.

3. The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary.

Churches and mobasteries in Spain are franchises for criminals.

London Encyc.

4. Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility. " Franchise in woman." [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Elective franchise , the privilege or right of voting in an election of public officers.

Franchise Fran"chise transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Franchised ; present participle & verbal noun Franchising .] [ Confer Old French franchir to free, F., to cross.] To make free; to enfranchise; to give liberty to. Shak.

Franchisement Fran"chise·ment noun [ Confer Old French franchissement .] Release; deliverance; freedom. Spenser.

Francic Fran"cic adjective [ See Frank , adjective ] Pertaining to the Franks, or their language; Frankish.

Franciscan Fran·cis"can adjective [ Late Latin Franciscus Francis: confer French franciscain .] (R. C. Ch.) Belonging to the Order of St. Francis of the Franciscans.

Franciscan Brothers , pious laymen who devote themselves to useful works, such as manual labor schools, and other educational institutions; -- called also Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis . -- Franciscan Nuns , nuns who follow the rule of St. Francis, esp. those of the Second Order of St. Francis, -- called also Poor Clares or Minoresses . -- Franciscan Tertiaries , the Third Order of St. Francis.

Franciscan Fran·cis"can noun (R.C.Ch.) A monk or friar of the Order of St. Francis, a large and zealous order of mendicant monks founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi. They are called also Friars Minor ; and in England, Gray Friars , because they wear a gray habit.

Francolin Fran"co·lin noun [ F.; confer Italian francolino , Spanish francolin .] (Zoology) A spurred partidge of the genus Francolinus and allied genera, of Asia and Africa. The common species ( F. vulgaris ) was formerly common in southern Europe, but is now nearly restricted to Asia.

Francolite Fran"co·lite noun (Min.) A variety of apatite from Wheal Franco in Devonshire.

Frangent Fran"gent adjective [ Latin frangens , present participle of frangere . See Fraction .] Causing fracture; breaking. [ R.] H. Walpole.

Frangibility Fran`gi·bil"i·ty noun [ Confer French frangibilité .] The state or quality of being frangible. Fox.

Frangible Fran"gi·ble adjective [ Confer French frangible .] Capable of being broken; brittle; fragile; easily broken.

Frangipane Fran"gi·pane noun [ French frangipane ; supposed to be called so from the inventor, the Marquis Frangipani , major general under Louis XIV.] 1. A perfume of jasmine; frangipani.

2. A species of pastry, containing cream and almonds.

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