fract/frag

break

Spelled fract, frag · frangere 'break'; fractus 'broken'

Latin frangere meant to break: a fracture is a break, a fragment is a broken piece, and fragile things break easily.

Words built from it

fracture — a crack or break in a hard material
Latin frangere (break) → fractus (broken) → fractura (a breaking) → fracture
fragment — a small part broken or separated from a whole
Latin frangere (break) + -mentum (result) → fragmentum (broken piece) → fragment
fragile — easily broken, damaged, or upset
Latin frangere (break) → fragilis (easily broken) → fragile
fractious — irritable, quarrelsome, and difficult to control
Latin fractus (broken), from frangere (break), + English -ious; the sense developed toward unruliness
refractory — stubbornly resisting control or treatment
Latin re- (back) + frangere (break) → refringere → refractus → refractarius (stubborn) → refractory
infraction — a violation of a rule or law
Latin in- (in, into) + frangere (break) → infringere → infractio (a breaking) → infraction

fragrant — Its frag letters come from Latin fragrare, meaning to give off a smell, not frangere, meaning to break.