Break

Dictionary day today.  I did the usual shutting of eyes and pointing to a word and then seeing what I was pointing to.  Today it was “break.”
It was actually quite a big word in that it had many elements like break with, and break away, and break of day or break the bank.
I did like the definition at the beginning though. “become discontinuous.” I also liked another definition I read, “separate, interrupt.” “separate into two or more pieces.”
In looking up meanings it seemed to have “suddenly” often.  Or “abruptly.”  That sort of got my attention.  It seems it is often the suddenness of a break that catches by surprise.  Breaks or separating of the earth in the form of an earthquake takes people by surprise.  In one sense it may be expected in that it is a zone known for the earth breaking.  Yet every time its happening takes people by surprise.
Also when people break a leg or bone in sport there is not only a separating of the bone but a separation of the player from the sport they were involved in.  Mostly it is for a while and there is a return to it.
Not to be confused though with “break a leg” which is a way of wishing an actor good luck.  It is unclear the source of that saying but I do like to think it is from the Greek tradition of stomping the feet instead of clapping and it being done so hard it causes someone to break their leg.  That to me implies and enthusiastic positive response.  Of course it is not so good for the person who breaks their leg.
There are many phrases where break is the first word.  Like “break through.”  That is normally seen to be a good thing.  A previously hidden thing becomes clear and enables someone to take a matter further.  Or “break away.”  That often refers to a country or part of one that goes its own way.  Czechoslovakia became two countries.  The Czech Republic and Slovakia.  They called it “the revolution no one wanted.”
Then there were things like breaking a horse in or break and enter.  I had not thought of the variations before.  One thing I think I will do now though is break away from the computer.  I used the word in a sentence.  Don’t want to get carried away though.  Think I need a break.