Infrangible

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈfɹænd͡ʒɪbəl/

Definitions

1. Incapable of being broken, violated, or infringed upon
2. Something that cannot be broken, breached, or violated under any circumstances
3. That which is impossible to fracture, infringe, or compromise in any way

Etymology: "Infrangible" is built from a negating prefix and a Latin verb meaning "to break." The prefix "in-" means "not," and it attaches to "frangibilis," an adjective formed from "frangere," the Latin verb for breaking into pieces. Together they describe something that cannot be broken. The word reached English by way of French. It passed from Medieval Latin into Old French, then Middle French, before English speakers adopted it. Its sense has stayed close to the original: it describes objects that resist breaking, but it has also long been used figuratively for things that cannot be violated, such as laws, rights, or vows. The same Latin root "frangere" lies behind English words like "fracture" and "fragile," which share the idea of breaking apart. "Infrangible" is the stronger, more absolute member of that family, marking the point where something is beyond breaking altogether.

Synonyms: unbreakable, indestructible, unyielding, resilient, robust

Antonyms: breakable, fragile, brittle, delicate, weakened