[bro.ken] adj [ME, fr. OE brocen, fr. pp. of brecan to break] (13c) 1: violently separated into parts: shattered
2: damaged or altered by breaking: as a: having undergone or been subjected to fracture "a ~ leg" b of land surfaces: being irregular, interrupted, or full of obstacles c: violated by transgression "a ~ promise" d: discontinuous, interrupted e: disrupted by change f of a flower: having an irregular, streaked, or blotched pattern esp. from virus infection 3 a: made weak or infirm b: subdued completely: crushed "a ~ spirit" c: bankrupt d: reduced in rank
4. a: cut off: disconnected b: imperfectly spoken or written "~ English"
5: not complete or full
6: disunited by divorce, separation, or desertion of one parent "children from ~ homes" "a ~ family" -- bro.ken.ly adv -- bro.ken.ness n