Breaking through or breaking open something, like a dam or wall; violating or failing to follow a rule or agreement.
From Old English bræc meaning 'break.' Developed into 'breach' as a noun and verb by Middle English. Originally physical (breaking a wall), it evolved to include abstract violations like breaking trust or agreements.
Breaching has a fascinating double life—it's simultaneously physical (breaching a fortress wall with cannons) and abstract (breaching a contract or national security). This shows how 'break' vocabulary evolved to handle both material and immaterial concepts as society became more complex.
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