Lewis & Short

perfringo, frēgi, fractum, 3, v. a. [perfrango], to break through, to break or dash in pieces, to shiver, shatter (class.).

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: elephanto pugno perfregisti bracchium, Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 26: jumenta ingredientia nivem … jactandis gravius in connitendo ungulis penitus perfringebant, broke through, Liv. 21, 36, 8: saxo perfracto capite, his skull fractured by a stroke of a stone, id. 4, 28 fin.: tempora fulvo protecta capillo, Ov. M. 12, 274: perfracto saxo sortes erupisse, Cic. Div. 2, 41, 85: Olympum fulmine, Ov. M. 1, 154: nucem, Plin. 10, 12, 14, § 30: aliquid, Ter. Ad. 1, 1, 12: munitiones, Caes. B. G. 7, 85: tabulationem, id. B. C. 2, 9: naves perfregerant proras, litori illisas, had been wrecked, Liv. 22, 20.
    2. B. In partic., to break or burst through, to force one’s way through any obstacle: hostium phalangem, Caes. B. G. 1, 25: aciem, Sil. 9, 362: muros, Tac. H. 3, 20: domos, to break into, id. ib. 4, 1.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. To break through, violate, infringe: decreta senatūs, Cic. Mil. 32, 87: leges, id. Cat. 1, 7, 18: ac prosternere omnia cupiditate ac furore, id. Clu. 6, 15.
    2. B. To break or burst through: omnia repagula juris, pudoris et officii perfringere. Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 15, § 39: perfringere et labefactare tantam conspirationem bonorum omnium, id. Cat. 4, 10, 22: animos suavitate, to affect powerfully, id. Brut. 9, 38.
      Absol.: haec (eloquentia) modo perfringit, modo irrepit in sensus, Cic. Or. 28, 97.