1570s, from Late Latin refractionem (nominative refractio) "a breaking up," noun of action from past participle stem of Latin refringere "to break up," from re- "back" (see re-) + combining form of frangere "to break" (from PIE root *bhreg- "to break").
reformatory
reformer
reformist
reformulate
refract
refraction
refractive
refractor
refractory
refrain
reframe