E 0117          TO BREAK

The verb " to break " is of Germanic origin .

H 0716            ק ר פ

Concept of root : taking to pieces

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ק ר פ

paraq;

peraq

to break up, to tear apart ;

 to lacerate

Related English words

to break

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ק ר פ

paraq;

-

peraq

to break up, tear apart;

to lacerate

p . r . q

Greek

ρηγνυμι

règnümi

to break to pieces, lacerate

r . g <

* w . r . g

Latin

frangere

frangere

to break, shatter

f . r . ng

English

to break

to break;

to wreck

b . r . k ;

w . r . ck

Dutch

breken;

wrak

bréken;

wrak

to break;

wrack

b . r . k ;

w . r . k

 

 

Proto-Semitic *PARAQ --- *BRĀK Indo-European

 

 

The initial explosive labial P in Hebrew corresponds with the aspired labial F in Latin and the voiced one B in Germanic. A not unusual situation. We see more entries that share with the actual one the first two consonants "P R" in Hebrew as well as the meaning of breaking or destroying something. In Latin letters we find in Hebrew : "P R M", "P R Q" , "P R R", "P R S" , "P R TS", with various differences and nuances. This is a clear example of the way the Hebrew language has developed. Of course a simple combination of two consonants like "P R" also has been, and had to be used to express other messages, many of which are present in our list of similarities.

 

It must be noted that also among Semitic languages we find such an initial F , as in Mehru "feroq", as well as In Ethiopic and Arabic .

 

 

Note:
  • European and Hebrew. As a series of words is developed in both groups, it is quite normal that some nuances, in this case ways of breaking and destroying, are not created with the same third consonant . The final K in Germanic and the final Q in Hebrew may each have some meanings that in the other group has been placed in a different one. "To break " itself in its basic general meaning in Hebrew is expressed by "P R S", whereas "P R Q" specializes in more thorough versions of breaking.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic has hypothetically the same root Hebrew uses "*פ ר ק , P R Q" . It is there in Aramaic and Syriac "פ ר ק , peraq = to break off, rescue, break loose". It has cognates in Arabic "faraqa = to split, divide" and Ethiopian "faraqa = he set free". Obvously the root, that is considered one and the same is used for figurative and also practical related meanings of the concept "to break", the same that happens in the Indo European languages.

 

Note:
  • Latin has a nasalization in "frangere". This means an N has been inserted in front of the guttural that perhaps also has been softened into G in the process. In the participle "fractum" we see the C again. But this may also be on account of the following T, as we see the past tense in "fregi". Also in the noun "fragor = breaking" we see the non-nasalized version.

     

    The indication for Latin is "F R A G-" , in which the length of the vowel " A " varies.

 

Note:
  • Greek "règnumi" has as root "R G", with "-numi" being a complex suffix. The original root has a W in front of the R. This W corresponds with the P, F and B in the other languages, and it is also found in the Dutch noun "wrak". The indication on the basis of "règnumi" is a W R È G-, that originally probably was W R A G-

     

    But Greek has a second important verb in "α γ ν υ μ ι, agnumi = to break, break to pieces". This verb developed out of an earlier "*wagnumi" and indicates a second old form "*W A G".

 

Note:
  • Hebrew and Dutch. The Hebrew word "paraq" for "something gone to pieces" is very near the Dutch word "wrak = wreck" with the identical meaning. This is in Dutch not only that of broken ships.

 

Note:
  • English. Old English had "brecan" for "to break". In "to wreck" and "wrack", as in Dutch "wrak" we find the initial W that was found in older Greek and corresponds with the B in "to break".

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic. Besides the already mentioned Old English verb "brecan", one finds Gothic "brikan", Old Saxon "brekan", Old Frisian "breka", Old Norse "brekka", Old High German "brechan" ( with a change in the second consonant) and Middle Dutch "breken". Probably Proto-Germanic had already "*BR Ē K-.

 

Note:
  • Indo-European.Regarding the used vowels it is important to note that Latin used "frAngo, frEgi", English "to brEAk, brOke" , German "brÈche, brĀch" and Dutch "brEEk, brĂk".

     

    In Old Indian "bhanákti = breaks" and bhangagh = fracture, breach" there is no " R " after the initial " B ", comparable with one of the two abovementioned Greek words.

     

    One notes that the same word "bhangagh" also stands for "wave" and this is a clear cognate of Lithuanian "bangà" with the same meaning of "wave". But there is no clear semantic link and we must disregard this for now.

     

    Yet there is as well "bŗgalam(with syllable forming "ŗ") = fragment, broken piece" . So for Old Indian we have "B (R) A G-", though in some forms the "G" may also disappear .

     

    Celtic in Old Irish for the meaning "breaks": with "bo-n-gid, boi-n-g", with the infinitive "bech" also lacks the "R" and after "O" nasalizes the "G".

     

    Armenian has "bekanem = breaks" and "bek = broken".

     

    Indo-European probably had the root with " R ", that then in some cases was lost, but not in a consequent way. Thus the possible origin was "*B R A K-.

 

 

 

 

 
"...the town, to which was given the name Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the language of all the world on the face of which He dispersed them. GENESIS 11,9"
 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 29/12/2012 at 16.00.26