I.v. a., to break off; to break to pieces (rare but class.).
I. Lit.: “amphoram defracto collo puram impleto,” Cato R. R. 88: “plantas,” Varr. R. R. 1, 40, 4; cf. Verg. G. 2, 300: “ramum arboris,” Cic. Caecin. 21, 60: “surculum,” id. de Or. 3, 28, 110: “ferrum summā ab hasta,” Verg. A. 11, 748: “crura aut cervices sibi,” Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 126; so, “lumbos,” id. Stich. 1, 3, 37: caput ei testatim, Juventius ap. Charis. p. 196 P.; cf.: caput ei hoc patibulo, Titin. ap. Non. 366, 18.—
II. Trop.: “id unum bonum est, quod numquam defringitur,” is never destroyed, Sen. Ep. 92; Apul. Flor. 3, p. 355, 2.
