broken

Everyday

1. Broken means damaged, or in pieces. tree →
2. Broken means not working: «The TV is broken». tree →
3. A broken promise is one that was not kept. tree →
4. Broken English is spoken with many mistakes. tree →
5. A broken bone is a cracked bone. tree →

In the lessons

things that cannot be used and are taken away from a total; in everyday safety, broken glass; phrases «broken arm», «broken promise», «broken home», «broken line» (a dashed line)

Examples

• 4 of the 24 eggs were broken. tree →
• He has 10 crayons; 3 are broken. tree →
• How many plates are not broken? tree →
• The broken stick was cut into 3 pieces. tree →
• She has a broken arm. tree →
• The window was broken by a ball. tree →
• My watch is broken. tree →
• Don't touch broken glass, tell an adult. tree →
• He felt sad about the broken promise. tree →
• Draw a broken line between the points. tree →
• And now my heart is broken." tree →

Note

Broken ones are taken away from the good ones. Trap: broken pieces of one thing may be more than one. Say «it is broken» or «it broke», not «it is broke». Safety: never pick up broken glass with bare hands.

In Jewish tradition

In the laws of priests, a broken limb makes a man unfit to serve at the altar. A broken clay vessel was one that had to be destroyed if it became unclean. The prophets also call a person a "broken image", meaning a smashed and worthless thing, and the psalms speak of those who are broken in heart.

Interpretation. Tradition teaches that offerings and priests must be whole, but in prayer a broken heart is dear to God. The rabbis read "He healeth the broken in heart" as a promise of comfort for the sad and the poor. The verse that "not one of his bones is broken" is read as a sign of God's care for the righteous.

Examples

• or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed, (Torah LEV.21.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• And when Moses saw that the people were broken loose — for Aaron had let them loose for a derision among their enemies — (Torah EXO.32.25, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the earthen vessel, which he that hath the issue toucheth, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water. (Torah LEV.15.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• Is this man Coniah a despised, broken image? (Prophets JER.22.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• He keepeth all his bones; not one of them is broken. (Writings PSA.34.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• Who healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. (Writings PSA.147.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Broken ones are taken away from the good ones. Trap: broken pieces of one thing may be more than one. Say «it is broken» or «it broke», not «it is broke». Safety: never pick up broken glass with bare hands.