Webster's English Dictionary

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fragile

Cross references:
  1. weak                  
 
frag.ile \'fraj-*l, -.i-l\ \fr*-'jil-*t-e-\ aj [MF, fr. L fragilis] 1: 
   easily broken or destroyed : FRAIL  2: TENUOUS, SLIGHT LE mean breaking 
   easily. FRAGILE implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and 
   need for careful handling; FRANGIBLE implies susceptibility to being broken 
   without implying weakness or delicacy; BRITTLE implies hardness together 
   with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness; CRISP implies a 
   firmness and brittleness desirable esp. in some foods; FRIABLE applies to 
   substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized - fra.gil.i.ty n SYN syn 
   FRAGILE, FRANGIBLE, BRITTLE, CRISP, FRIAB