frank
English
editPronunciation
editEtymology 1
editFrom Middle English frank, from Old French franc (“free”), in turn from the name of an early Germanic confederation, the Franks, from Proto-West Germanic *frank (“courageous, free”) and/or Proto-West Germanic *frankō (“javelin, spear”). Doublet of Frank, franc, and farang.
Adjective
editfrank (comparative franker, superlative frankest)
- Honest, especially in a manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised.
- May I be frank with you?
- (medicine) Unmistakable, clinically obvious, self-evident.
- The research probes whether treating pre-diabetes with metformin can prevent progression to frank diabetes.
- (obsolete) Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free.
- 1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC:
- It is of frank gift.
- (obsolete) Liberal; generous; profuse.
- 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
- Frank of Civilities that cost them nothing.
- (obsolete, derogatory) Unrestrained; loose; licentious.
- 1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Muiopotmos, or The Fate of the Butterflie”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC:
- Over the fields, in his franke lustinesse,
And all the champain o're he soared light.
Derived terms
editTranslations
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Noun
editfrank (plural franks)
- (uncountable) Free postage, a right exercised by governments (usually with definite article).
- October 5, 1780, William Cowper, letter to Rev. William Unwin
- I have said so much, that, if I had not a frank, I must burn my letter and begin again.
- October 5, 1780, William Cowper, letter to Rev. William Unwin
- (countable) The notice on an envelope where a stamp would normally be found.
- 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], “(please specify the page)”, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 178–179:
- But, although her friends were kind, Lady Anne was not easy; neither daughter made her appearance, nor did she receive a letter to account for their silence. She remembered, indeed, that Charles Penrhyn could not get franks now, and her daughters knew she would not pay postage; and she had commanded Helen to work night and day, saying, "surely they can give her common materials."
Verb
editfrank (third-person singular simple present franks, present participle franking, simple past and past participle franked)
- To place a frank on an envelope.
- 1811, [Jane Austen], chapter 20, in Sense and Sensibility […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:
- It will be so ridiculous to see all his letters directed to him with an M.P.—But do you know, he says, he will never frank for me?
- To exempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.
- To send by public conveyance free of expense.
- 1850-1859, Charles Dickens, Household Words
- This required extensive correspondence; so, in the next place, the privilege of franking letters in reference to the emigrants' registration office, was obtained—much to the indignation of red tapists.
- 1850-1859, Charles Dickens, Household Words
Translations
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See also
editEtymology 2
editClipping of frankfurter.
Noun
editfrank (plural franks)
- A hot dog or sausage.
- Synonyms: frankfurt, frankfurter
- Buy a package of franks for the barbecue.
- 1957, Jack Kerouac, chapter 1, in On the Road, Viking Press, →OCLC, part 1:
- We had a farewell meal of franks and beans in a Seventh Avenue Riker’s, and then Dean got on the bus that said Chicago and roared off into the night.
- 1978, Superman: The Movie, spoken by Perry White (Jackie Cooper):
- I want the name of this flying whatchamacallit to go with the Daily Planet like bacon and eggs, franks and beans, death and taxes, politics and corruption!
- 1988 June 28, “Cold Lampin' With Flavor” (track 4), in It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back[1], performed by Public Enemy:
- I'm in my Flavmobile cold lamping. I took a G upstate cold camping. To the Poconos, we call a hideaways. A bag of franks and a bag of Frito-Lays.
Derived terms
editSee also
editEtymology 3
editNoun
editfrank (plural franks)
- (UK) The grey heron.
Etymology 4
editFrom Old French franc.
Noun
editfrank (plural franks)
- A pigsty.
Verb
editfrank (third-person singular simple present franks, present participle franking, simple past and past participle franked)
- To shut up in a frank or sty; to pen up; hence, to cram; to fatten.
- c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
- Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid;
He is franked up to fatting for his pains
Etymology 5
editNoun
editfrank (plural franks)
- (historical) Obsolete form of franc, former French coins, moneys of account, and currency.
- 1771, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1st ed., Vol. II, p. 630:
- Frank, or Franc, an ancient coin, either of gold or ſilver, ſtruck and current in France. The value of the gold frank was ſomewhat more than that of the gold crown; the ſilver frank was a third of the gold one; this coin is long out of uſe, though the term is ſtill retained as the name of a money of account; in which ſenſe it is equivalent to the livre, or twenty ſols.
- 1771, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1st ed., Vol. II, p. 630:
Czech
editPronunciation
editNoun
editfrank m inan
- franc (former currency of France and some other countries)
- franc (any of several units of currency such as Swiss franc)
Declension
editThis noun needs an inflection-table template.
Further reading
editDutch
editAlternative forms
edit- vrank (archaic, except in the expression vrank en vrij)
Etymology
editFrom Middle Dutch vranc.
Pronunciation
editAdjective
editfrank (comparative franker, superlative frankst)
Inflection
editDeclension of frank | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
uninflected | frank | |||
inflected | franke | |||
comparative | franker | |||
positive | comparative | superlative | ||
predicative/adverbial | frank | franker | het frankst het frankste | |
indefinite | m./f. sing. | franke | frankere | frankste |
n. sing. | frank | franker | frankste | |
plural | franke | frankere | frankste | |
definite | franke | frankere | frankste | |
partitive | franks | frankers | — |
Derived terms
editEstonian
editEtymology 1
editNoun
editfrank (genitive frangi, partitive franki)
Declension
editDeclension of frank (ÕS type 22e/riik, k-g gradation) | |||
---|---|---|---|
singular | plural | ||
nominative | frank | frangid | |
accusative | nom. | ||
gen. | frangi | ||
genitive | frankide | ||
partitive | franki | franke frankisid | |
illative | franki frangisse |
frankidesse frangesse | |
inessive | frangis | frankides franges | |
elative | frangist | frankidest frangest | |
allative | frangile | frankidele frangele | |
adessive | frangil | frankidel frangel | |
ablative | frangilt | frankidelt frangelt | |
translative | frangiks | frankideks frangeks | |
terminative | frangini | frankideni | |
essive | frangina | frankidena | |
abessive | frangita | frankideta | |
comitative | frangiga | frankidega |
Etymology 2
edit(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun
editfrank (genitive frangi, partitive franki)
- Frank (Frankish person)
Declension
editDeclension of frank (ÕS type 22e/riik, k-g gradation) | |||
---|---|---|---|
singular | plural | ||
nominative | frank | frangid | |
accusative | nom. | ||
gen. | frangi | ||
genitive | frankide | ||
partitive | franki | franke frankisid | |
illative | franki frangisse |
frankidesse frangesse | |
inessive | frangis | frankides franges | |
elative | frangist | frankidest frangest | |
allative | frangile | frankidele frangele | |
adessive | frangil | frankidel frangel | |
ablative | frangilt | frankidelt frangelt | |
translative | frangiks | frankideks frangeks | |
terminative | frangini | frankideni | |
essive | frangina | frankidena | |
abessive | frangita | frankideta | |
comitative | frangiga | frankidega |
Further reading
editGerman
editEtymology
editFrom Middle High German franc, from Old French franc (“free”), of Germanic but eventually uncertain origin.
Pronunciation
editAdjective
editfrank (strong nominative masculine singular franker, not comparable)
Usage notes
edit- Now almost exclusively used in the (also somewhat dated) expression frank und frei.
Declension
editnumber & gender | singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | feminine | neuter | |||
predicative | er ist frank | sie ist frank | es ist frank | sie sind frank | |
strong declension (without article) |
nominative | franker | franke | frankes | franke |
genitive | franken | franker | franken | franker | |
dative | frankem | franker | frankem | franken | |
accusative | franken | franke | frankes | franke | |
weak declension (with definite article) |
nominative | der franke | die franke | das franke | die franken |
genitive | des franken | der franken | des franken | der franken | |
dative | dem franken | der franken | dem franken | den franken | |
accusative | den franken | die franke | das franke | die franken | |
mixed declension (with indefinite article) |
nominative | ein franker | eine franke | ein frankes | (keine) franken |
genitive | eines franken | einer franken | eines franken | (keiner) franken | |
dative | einem franken | einer franken | einem franken | (keinen) franken | |
accusative | einen franken | eine franke | ein frankes | (keine) franken |
Further reading
editIndonesian
editNoun
editfrank (first-person possessive frankku, second-person possessive frankmu, third-person possessive franknya)
- frank (coin)
Polish
editEtymology
editBorrowed from French franc, from Middle French franc, from Medieval Latin Franc, from Frankish *frankō (“a Frank”). Doublet of Frank.
Pronunciation
editNoun
editfrank m animal
- (historical) franc (former unit of currency of Belgium)
- franc (currency of the Comoros)
- (historical) franc (former unit of currency of France)
- franc (currency of Liechtenstein)
- (historical) franc (former unit of currency of Luxembourg)
- (historical) franc (former unit of currency of Monaco)
- franc (currency of Switzerland)
Declension
editDerived terms
editRelated terms
editFurther reading
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- en:Herons
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- et:Currencies
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