frache 
in which glass vessels which require annealing 
are exposed to heat in the leer, 
fracldt (fras'id), a. [< L. //</*. soft, mellow, 
< "fracere, inceptive fraeeseere, become soft or 
mellow, rot, spoil.] Rotten from being too ripe ; 
overripe. 
frack 1 (frak), a. Same ftsfreck 1 . 
frack- (frak), v. [Perhaps < frack 1 = freck 1 .] 
1. intrans: To abound, swarm, or throng. Hal- 
liirell. [Prov. Eng.] 
II. trans. To fill to excess. Wright. [Prov. 
Eng.] 
frack 3 (frak), . A hole in a garment. Halli- 
well. [Prov. Eng.] 
fractable (frak'ta-bl), n. [< L. fractus, pp. of 
frangere, break, + -able.] In arch., a gable- 
coping, when the coping follows the outline of 
the gable, and is broken into steps, crenelles, 
ogees, etc. 
fracted (frak'ted), a. [< L. fractus, pp. of fran- 
gere (frag-), break, = E. break.] If. Broken; 
violated. 
His days and times are past, 
And my reliances on Ins fracted dates 
Hath smit my credit. Shak., T. of A., ii. 1. 
His heart is fracted, and corroborate. 
Shak., Hen. V., ii. 1. 
2. Specifically, in her., broken asunder. This 
condition is depicted in different ways : 
thus, a f ease fracted may be represented 
as two demi-bars touching at one angle, 
or as a bar with a piece broken out of 
the middle and moved away. The bla- 
zon must therefore give more than the 
mere epithet fracted. 
Fracticornest (frak-ti-kor'nez), 
it. pi. [NL. (Latreille, 1802).] 
A group of coleopterous insects, 
representing a division of the family Cureulio- 
Chevron Fracted. 
fraction (frak'shon), u. [< ME. fraction, frac- 
tion, < OF. P. fraction = Pr. fraccio = Sp. frac- 
tion = Pg. fracqao = It. frazione, < Li. frac- 
tio(n-), a breaking, a breaking in pieces, ML. 
a fragment, portion, < frangere, pp. fractus, 
break, = E. break, q. y.] 1. The act of break- 
ing, or the state of being broken, especially by 
violence ; a breaking or fracture. [Rare.] 
Such public judgment in matters of opinion must be 
seldom, ... for in matters speculative, as all determina- 
tious are fallible, so scarce any of them are to purpose, 
nor ever able to make compensation of either side, either 
for the public fraction, or the particular injustice. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 383. 
2. Specifically (eccles.), the liturgical act of 
breaking or dividing the eucharistic bread, or 
host. Four such fractions are found in different litur- 
gies at different points in the office, but all do not occur 
in any one liturgy, namely: (1) A preparatory cutting or 
separation of portions at the beginning of the office or in 
the office of prothesis ; (2) a breaking at the word "brake " 
(fregit) in the institution ; (3) the solemn fraction after 
consecration and before communion ; (4) a division for 
distribution among the communicants. 
The bread, when it is consecrated and made sacramental, 
is the body of our Lord ; and the fraction and distribution 
of it is the communication of that body, which died for us 
upon the cross. Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 305. 
The Fraction ... in some Liturgies precedes the Lord's 
Prayer. J. M. Neale, Eastern Church, i. 518. 
3. A fragment; a separated portion ; a discon- 
nected part. 
The .fractions of her faith, orts of her love, 
The fragments, scraps, the bits, and greasy relumes 
Of her o'er-eaten faith, are bound to Diomed. 
Shak., T. and C., v. 2. 
There was an elect fraction who did not turn theii 
backs on the Messiah. 
G. I'. Fisher, Begin, of Christianity, p. 38. 
4. In math. : (a) In arith., one or more aliquot 
parts of a unit or whole number ; the ratio be- 
tween any two numbers. The number of parts into 
which the unit is divided is termed the denominator, and 
the number of these parts taken is termed the numerator. 
Tile denominator is commonly written below, and the nu- 
merator above, a horizontal or diagonal line : thus, |, , 
)$. Fractions written in this form are called common or 
vulgar fractions. (See decimal.) A vrojier fraction is one 
whose numerator is less than its denominator; an im- 
proper fraction, one whose numerator is greater than its 
denominator : as, j, V- A simple fraction expresses the 
ratio between two whole numbers: as, 8; a comjxtund or 
complex fraction expresses the ratio between fractions (or 
mixed numbers), or between a fraction (or mixed number) 
and a whole number : as, 
4 f i + ^ - 
Compound or complex fractions can always be reduced to 
simple fractions. A compound fraction is also defined as 
a fraction of a fraction. A fraction is said to be reduced 
to its lowest terms when the numerator and denominator 
contain no common factor. 
The fraction which denotes the ratio of the map to the 
true area is sometimes termed the representative/ration. 
Uttxlfii, Physiography, p. 11. 
3857 
(6) In alg., a ratio of algebraic quantities anal- 
ogous to the arithmetical vulgar fraction, and 
similarly expressed Astronomical or physical 
fraction, a fraction whose denominator is 00 or a power 
thereof: so callcil brraiist.- angular decrees are so ilividol 
by astronomers, and lengths formerly were so also. Con- 
tinued fraction. See continued. Convergent frac- 
tion. See convergent, n. Decimal fraction. See deci- 
mal. Rational fraction, a fraction whose numera- 
tor and denominator are rational ; especially, one which 
can be resolved into a sum o! two fractions of lower de- 
nominators. Vanishing fraction, a fraction whose nu- 
merator and denominator are infinitesimal or vanishing 
together. Vulgar fraction. See def. 4 (). 
fractional (frak'shon-al), a. [< fraction + -al.~\ 
Pertaining to fraction's ; comprising a part or 
the parts of a unit ; constituting a fraction : as, 
fractional numbers. 
So soon as the [colored] child is able to wield a hoe, lie 
is regarded ^.fractional field-hand, and during the cotton- 
picking season quite a large fraction. 
Pop. Sci. Mo., XXVI. 42. 
Fractional cultivation, currency, distillation, pre- 
cipitation, etc. See the nouns. 
fractionally (frak'shqn-al-i), adv. In a frac- 
tional manner; by a fraction. 
The new discoveries in California and Australia rendered 
gold fractionally cheaper than silver. 
Quarterly Rev., CXXVI. 455. 
The chloride was next fractionally distilled, and a por- 
tion eventually obtained boiling constantly at 120" C. 
Nature, XXXIX. 39. 
fractionary (frak'shon-a-ri), a. [= F.fraction- 
naire = Sp. Pg. fraccionario ; as fraction + 
-ary.~] 1. Fractional. 2. Of a fractional na- 
ture ; constituting a small part ; hence, subor- 
dinate; unimportant. 
Our sun . . . describing the sweep of such an orbit in 
space, and completing the mighty revolution in such a pe- 
riod of time as to reduce our planetary seasons and our 
planetary movements to a very humble and fractionary 
rank in the scale of a higher astronomy. Chalmers. 
Those who were contemporary to these great agencies 
[by which Christianity moved] saw only in part ; the frac- 
tionary mode of their perceptions intercepted this compul- 
sion from them. De Quincey, Essenes, i. 
Fractionary function. Same as meromorphic function 
(which see, under meromorphic). 
fractionate (frak'shon-at), v. t. ; pret. and pp. 
fractionated, ppr. fractionating, [(fraction + 
-ate 2 .] To subject to or obtain by the process 
of fractionation. 
The liquid in the receiver was fractionated into portions. 
Amer. Chein. Jour., VIII. 6. 
These heavy oils were obtained by passing the gas over 
carefully fractionated pure light coal oils. 
W. It. Bowditch, Coal Gas, p. 5. 
fractionation (frak-sho-na'shon), n. [< frac- 
tionate + -ton.] Chemical separation by suc- 
cessive operations, each removing from a liquid 
some proportion of one of the substances. The 
operation may be one of precipitation, or more 
familiarly of distillation. 
The isohexane . . . was obtained by fractionation from 
gasoline. Amer. Chem. Jour., VIII. 6. 
fractionlet (frak'shon-let), n. [< fraction + 
-let.'} A small fraction. [Rare.] 
Wrote & fractionlet of verse entitled "The Beetle." 
Carlyle, in Fronde, II. 16. 
fractious (frak'shus), . [Appar. an alteration 
(simulating fraction, fracture, etc.)ot*fratclious 
(cf.fratched, restive, vicious, applied to ahorse), 
<fratcli, scold, quarrel, squabble, + -CMS.] Apt 
to quarrel; cross; snappish; peevish; fretful; 
rebellious: as, a fractious child; a fractious 
temper. 
The leading animals became fractious, and we were 
obliged to stop every few minutes, until their paroxysms 
subsided. B. Taylor, Northern Travel, p. 144. 
Men struggling doubtfully with .fractious cows and 
frightened sheep. L. Wallace, Ben-Hur, p. 46. 
fractiously (frak'shus-li), <?*>. In a fractious 
manner. 
fractipusness (frak'shus-ues), H. The quality 
of being fractious; a fractious or snappish tem- 
per. 
fractuosity (frak-tu-os'i-ti), n. [< L. fractus, 
broken (see fracted), +"-osity, appar. after an- 
fractuosity.J The state of being fractured; 
superficial fracture. 
This defect is remedied by replating, which reincorpo- 
rates and reunites the surface, correcting all fractuosity, 
and making the ware bright and new. 
Set. Amer., N. S., LVIII. 17. 
fractural (frak'tur-al), a. [< fracture + -al.'] 
Pertaining to or of the nature of a fracture. 
Worcester, Supp. (1881). 
fracture (frak'tur), n. [< GF. fracture, F. frac- 
ture = Pr.fractura, frachura = Sp. Pg.fractura 
= It. frattura, < L. fractura, a breach, fracture, 
cleft, < frangere, pp. fractus, break: see frac- 
tion.] 1. A breaking or a break; especially, 
a partial or total separation of parts of a con- 
fragile 
tinuous solid body under the action of a force ; 
specifically, in surg., the breaking of a bone. 
The fracture of a bone is simple when the bone only is di- 
vided ; ri'iiiiaiiiiiiln-hfii the breaking of the bone is accom- 
panied by a laceration of the integuments ; ud0mMn&ivte 
"V comminuted when the bone is broken in more than one 
place. Fractures are also termed transverse, longitudi- 
nal, or obliijuf, according to their direction in regard to 
tin :i\is of the bone. 
Likewise if any bones or limbs be broken, cerot made 
with the seed of rue and wax together is able to souder 
the fracture. ll^llnml, tr. of Pliny, xx. 13. 
2. A broken surface, with reference to texture 
or configuration, or to manner of breaking ; spe- 
cifically, in minimi., the characteristic break- 
age of a substance, or appearance presented by 
its surface on cleavage : as, a compact fracture ; 
a fibrous fracture ; foliated, striated, or con- 
choidal fracture, etc. 
Fracture, taste, color, polarization, electrical properties, 
and transparency are among the least decisive peculiari- 
ties of minerals. Amer. Cyc., XI. 58. 
3. Forcible separation or disunion; quarrel- 
ing. [Rare.] 
Let the sick man set his house in order before he die, 
. . . reconcile the fractures of his family, reunite breth- 
ren, cause right understandings. 
Jer. Taylor, Holy Dying, iv. 9. 
Colles's fracture, fracture of the lower end of the radius 
of the forearm. Greenstick fracture, a partial frac- 
ture of a young bone. Pott's fracture, fracture of the 
lower end of the fibula with dislocation at the astragalotib- 
ial articulation. = Syn. Fracture, Rupture, Breach. Frac- 
ture of something hard, as a bone, glass, rocks ; rupture of 
something soft, as a blood-vessel, the skin ; breach, a bad 
break of any kind : as, the cannon made a breach in the 
wall. Fracture is rarely used figuratively ; the others 
often are. 
A bone may be broken at the part where it is struck, or 
it may break in consequence of a strain applied to it. In 
the former case the fracture is generally transverse, and 
in the latter more or less oblique in direction. 
Encyc. Brit., XXII. 681. 
The egg that soon 
Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclosed 
Their callow young. Milton, P. L. , vli. 419. 
Disburden'd heaven rejoiced, and soon repair'd 
Her mural breach. Milton, P. L., vi. 879. 
fracture (frak'tur), v. ; pret. and pp. fractured, 
ppr. fracturing, [(.fracture, .] I. trans. To 
break ; cause a fracture in ; crack : as, to frac- 
ture a bone or the skull. 
Loud the northern main 
Howls through the/roctur'd Caledonian isles. 
Thomson, Britannia. 
= Syn. Cleave, Split, etc. See rend, and fracture, n. 
II. intrans. To break; undergo fracture. 
The implements of the Trenton gravels are of sandstone 
chiefly, those of the upper Mississippi are of quartzite, 
neither of which fractures properly when subjected to 
heat. Science, IV., No. 95, p. 5. 
fracture-box (frak'tur-boks), . A box used 
to incase a fractured leg. securing immobility 
and facilitating the application of dressings. 
frae (fra), prep. A Scotch form of fro, from. 
fraenula, fraenulum, etc. See/renuto, etc. 
Fragaria (fra-ga'ri-a), H. [NL., < L. fraga, 
pi., strawberries, > F. f raise, strawberry: see 
f raise 3 . ] A genus of perennial herbs with creep- 
ing stolons, of the natural order Rosaceas, the 
fruit of which is known as the strawberry. There 
are 8 or 8 species widely distributed through the temperate 
and alpine regions of the northern hemisphere, besides a 
Strawberry (Fragaria VfSca). 
single species in the Andes of South America. Several are 
cultivated very extensively for their characteristic fruit, 
which consists of a large fleshy receptacle bearing numer- 
ous small, hard achenes upon its surface, and of which 
there are many varieties. F. Indica, which is the only 
species with yellow flowers, has handsome but tasteless 
fruit, and is cultivated for ornament. See strawberry. 
fraggle (frag'l), v. t. ; pret. and pp. fraggled, 
ppr. fraagling. [Origin obscure.] To rob. 
[Local, U. S.] 
fragile (fraj'il), a. [= F. fragile = fi.frtiail. 
fragel = Sp. fragil = Pg. fragil = It. fragile, < 
L. fragilis, easily broken, brittle, frail, < frau- 
gere (/ *frag), break : see fraction. Doublet, 
frail 1 , q. v.] Easily broken ; brittle ; hence, of- 
fering weak resistance to any destroying force ; 
weak ; easily destroyed ; liable to fail. 
The stalk of ivy is tough, und not fragile. 
Bacon. 
