frank
adjective
- bluntly honest
noun
- postal marking instead of a stamp
- right of government for free postage
verb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L23309 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈfɹæŋk/ / [ˈfɹʷæŋk] / /ˈfɹeɪ̯ŋk/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English frank, from Old French franc (“free”), in turn from the name of an early Germanic confederation, the Franks, from Proto-West Germanic *frankō (“javelin, spear”). Doublet of Frank, franc, and farang.
- Honest, especially in a manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised.
“May I be frank with you?”
- Unmistakable, clinically obvious, self-evident.
“The research probes whether treating pre-diabetes with metformin can prevent progression to frank diabetes.”
- Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free.
“It is of frank gift.”
- Liberal; generous; profuse.
“Frank of Civilities that cost them nothing.”
- Unrestrained; loose; licentious.
“Over the fields, in his franke lustinesse, And all the champain o're he soared light.”
name
Etymology: The surname derives from the medieval tribal name. The given name is also a form of Francis, with formal given name status since the 19th century.
- A male given name from the Germanic languages.
“Mrs. Ford. How now, sweet Frank! why art thou melancholy?”
- A diminutive of the male given name Francis.
“Your name is Francis, is it? Frank, sir. Your name is Francis. There was never a St. Frank. That's a name for gangsters and politicians.”
“But Frank Fairbanks, a retired public administrator, had to sheepishly acknowledge that he had grass. “Unfortunately, like many of our central Phoenix neighbors, we have a green lawn which consumes more water than xeriscape,” he told the paper.”
- A surname transferred from the nickname.
- A place name:
- A place name:
- A place name:
noun
Etymology: From Middle English Frank, partially from Old English Franca (“a Frank”); and partially from Old French Franc, and/or Latin Francus (“a Frank”), from Frankish *Franko (“a Frank”); both maybe from Proto-Germanic *frankô (“javelin”). Cognate with Old High German Franko (“a Frank”), Old English franca (“spear, javelin”). Compare Saxon, ultimately a derivative of Proto-Germanic *sahsą (“knife, dagger”). Doublet of franc, frank, and farang.
- One of the Franks, a Germanic federation that inhabited parts of what are now France, the Low Countries and Germany.
- Frenchman.
verb
Etymology: From Old French franc.
- To shut up in a frank or sty; to pen up; hence, to cram; to fatten.
“Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid; He is franked up to fatting for his pains”