frank
English[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Middle English, from Old French franc (“free”), in turn from the name of an early Germanic confederation, the Franks.
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: Imprinted for VVilliam Ponsonbie, […], OCLC 15537294:
- 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 228727523:
- Frank of Civilities that cost them nothing.
- (obsolete, derogatory) Unrestrained; loose; licentious.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)
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.
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, Sense and Sensibility, chapter 20
- 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?
- 1811, Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, chapter 20
- To exempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.
- To send by public conveyance free of expense.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Charles Dickens to this entry?)
Translations[edit]
See also[edit]
Etymology 2[edit]
Shortened form of frankfurter.
Noun[edit]
frank (plural franks)
- A hot dog or sausage.
- Synonyms: frankfurt, frankfurter
- Buy a package of franks for the barbecue.
- 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!
Related terms[edit]
See also[edit]
Etymology 3[edit]
Noun[edit]
frank (plural franks)
- (Britain) 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, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act 1, scene 3]:
- Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid;
He is franked up to fatting for his pains
Czech[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
frank m
- franc (former currency of France and some other countries)
- franc (any of several units of currency such as Swiss franc)
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[edit]
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun[edit]
frank (genitive [please provide], partitive [please provide])
Declension[edit]
This noun needs an inflection-table template.
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 (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 | all genders | ||
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]
- “frank” in Duden online
Polish[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
frank m anim
Usage notes[edit]
Unqualified modern usage typically refers to the Swiss franc.
Declension[edit]
- English 1-syllable words
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