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refrangible

[ri-fran-juh-buh l]
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adjective
  1. capable of being refracted, as rays of light.
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Origin of refrangible

First recorded in 1665–75; re- + frangible
Related formsre·fran·gi·ble·ness, re·fran·gi·bil·i·ty, nounun·re·fran·gi·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for refrangible

Historical Examples

  • Light is decomposed by the prism, because its component parts are refrangible in different degrees, by the same refracting medium.

    Conversations on Natural Philosophy, in which the Elements of that Science are Familiarly Explained

    Jane Haldimand Marcet and Thomas P. Jones

  • Minium reflects the least refrangible or red-making Rays most copiously, and thence appears red.

    Opticks

    Isaac Newton

  • Violets reflect the most refrangible most copiously, and thence have their Colour, and so of other Bodies.

    Opticks

    Isaac Newton

British Dictionary definitions for refrangible

refrangible

adjective
  1. capable of being refracted
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Derived Formsrefrangibility or refrangibleness, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin refringere to break up, from re- + frangere to break
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for refrangible

adj.

1670s, from stem of Vulgar Latin *refrangere, from re- "back" (see re-) + Latin frangere "to break" (see fraction).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper