frank
English[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
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 *frank (“courageous, free”) and/or Proto-West Germanic *frankō (“javelin, spear”).
Adjective[edit]
frank (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[edit]
Translations[edit]
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Noun[edit]
frank (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[edit]

frank (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[edit]
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See also[edit]
Etymology 2[edit]
Clipping of frankfurter.
Noun[edit]
frank (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[edit]
See also[edit]
Etymology 3[edit]
Noun[edit]
frank (plural franks)
- (UK) The grey heron.
Etymology 4[edit]
From Old French franc.
Noun[edit]
frank (plural franks)
- A pigsty.
Verb[edit]
frank (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[edit]
Noun[edit]
frank (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[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
frank m inan
- franc (former currency of France and some other countries)
- franc (any of several units of currency such as Swiss franc)
Declension[edit]
This noun needs an inflection-table template.
Further reading[edit]
- frank in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
- frank in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989
Dutch[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- vrank (archaic, except in the expression vrank en vrij)
Etymology[edit]
From Middle Dutch vranc.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
frank (comparative franker, superlative frankst)
Inflection[edit]
Inflection 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[edit]
Estonian[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Noun[edit]
frank (genitive frangi, partitive franki)
Declension[edit]
singular | plural | |
---|---|---|
nominative | frank | frangid |
accusative | frangi | frangid |
genitive | frangi | 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 |
Notes | 1) The long illative singular form with -sse is rarely used for this declension type. |
Etymology 2[edit]
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun[edit]
frank (genitive frangi, partitive franki)
- Frank (Frankish person)
Declension[edit]
singular | plural | |
---|---|---|
nominative | frank | frangid |
accusative | frangi | frangid |
genitive | frangi | 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 |
Notes | 1) The long illative singular form with -sse is rarely used for this declension type. |
Further reading[edit]
German[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle High German franc, from Old French franc (“free”), of Germanic but eventually uncertain origin.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
frank (strong nominative masculine singular franker, not comparable)
Usage notes[edit]
- Now almost exclusively used in the (also somewhat dated) expression frank und frei.
Declension[edit]
number & 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[edit]
Indonesian[edit]
Noun[edit]
frank (first-person possessive frankku, second-person possessive frankmu, third-person possessive franknya)
- frank (coin)
Polish[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Borrowed from French franc, from Middle French franc, from Medieval Latin Franc, from Frankish *frankō (“a Frank”). Doublet of Frank.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
frank m anim
- (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[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Further reading[edit]
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