/fɹæŋk/, /fɹeɪŋk/
OriginFrom 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.”
- obsoleteUnbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free.
- obsoleteLiberal; generous; profuse.
“Frank of Civilities that cost them nothing.”
- uncountableFree 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.”
- countableThe notice on an envelope where a stamp would normally be found.
“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 Penrh”
- A hot dog or sausage.
“Buy a package of franks for the barbecue.”
“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.”
“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!”
- UKThe grey heron.
- A pigsty.
- One of the Franks, a Germanic federation that inhabited parts of what are now France, the Low Countries and Germany.
- Frenchman.
- transitiveTo place a frank on an envelope.
“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?”
- transitiveTo exempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.
- transitiveTo 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 obt”
- 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”
- 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 mo”
- A surname transferred from the nickname.
- A community in Crowsnest Pass municipality, south-west Alberta, Canada.
- An unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina, United States.
- A census-designated place in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States.
Formsfranker(comparative) · frankest(superlative) · franks(plural) · franks(present, singular, third-person) · franking(participle, present) · franked(participle, past) · franked(past) · Franks(plural)