I.to break off before or at the end, to break to pieces, shiver (class.): “ne caulis praefringatur,” Cato, R. R. 33 (cited by Plin. 17, 22, 35, § 20): “hastas,” Liv. 8, 10; so, “primam aciem telo,” to break off the point of the missile, Just. 6, 8, 2: “cornu galeae,” Liv. 27, 33: “praefracto rostro (triremis),” Caes. B. C. 2, 6: praefracta strigilis, Lucil. ap. Gell. 3, 14, 10: “praefracta ligna,” Lucr. 1, 892.—Hence, praefractus , a, um, P. a.
A. In rhet., broken, abrupt: “Thucydides praefractior,” Cic. Or. 13, 40.—
B. In character, stern, harsh, inflexible: Aristo Chius, praefractus, ferreus, Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. 155, 14: “praefractior atque abscissior justitia,” Val. Max. 6, 5 fin.: “praefractius perseverantiae exemplum,” sterner, firmer, id. 3, 8, ext. 3.—Adv.: praefractē , sternly, inflexibly, resolutely: “aerarium defendere,” Cic. Off. 3, 22, 88 (Non. 155, 11, reads praefractum).—Comp., Val. Max. 9, 7 fin.