brisance

[ bri-zahns; French bree-zahns ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

brisance

/ ˈbriːzəns; brizɑ̃s /

1910–15; < French, equivalent to bris ( er ) to break (< Celtic; akin to Irish brisim (I) break) + -ance -ance

C20: from French, from briser to break, ultimately of Celtic origin; compare Old Irish brissim I break

It isn't exactly strength or hardness or toughness or resilience or brisance—maybe a combination of all five.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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