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frank
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
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.
Adjective
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
Translations
bluntly honest
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Noun
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
frank (third-person singular simple present franks, present participle franking, simple past and past participle franked)
- (transitive) To place a frank on an envelope.
- 1811, [Jane Austen], chapter 20, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume (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?
- (transitive) To exempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.
- (transitive) 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
Derived terms
Translations
to place a frank on an envelope
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See also
Etymology 2
Clipping of frankfurter.
Noun
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, 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.
- 2007, Becky Mercuri, The Great American Hot Dog Book: Recipes and Side Dishes from Across America, Gibbs Smith:
- Chicago has a major influence on flavored foods of the Midwest. It’s the home of deep dish-style pizza and the Italian beef sandwich. It’s also the home of the famous frank known as the Chicago-style hot dog. Based on a Vienna all-beef frank, this distinguished dog is typically steamed and served in a warm poppy seed bun topped with mustard, sweet pickle relish, chopped onion, tomato wedges or slices, sport peppers, and a dill pickle spear, then finished off with a dash of celery salt
Derived terms
See also
Etymology 3
Noun
frank (plural franks)
- (UK) The grey heron.
Etymology 4
From Old French franc.
Noun
frank (plural franks)
- A pigsty.
Verb
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
Noun
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:
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Czech
Pronunciation
Noun
frank m inan
- franc (any of several units of currency such as Swiss franc)
- franc (former currency of France and some other countries)
Declension
Declension of frank (velar masculine inanimate)
Further reading
- “frank”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
- “frank”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
- “frank”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2025
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Dutch
Alternative forms
- vrank (archaic, except in the expression vrank en vrij)
Etymology
From Middle Dutch vranc.
Pronunciation
Adjective
frank (comparative franker, superlative frankst)
Declension
Derived terms
- frank en vrij
Estonian
Etymology 1
Noun
frank (genitive frangi, partitive franki)
Declension
Etymology 2
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun
frank (genitive frangi, partitive franki)
- Frank (Frankish person)
Declension
Further reading
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German
Etymology
From Middle High German franc, from Old French franc (“free”), of Germanic but eventually uncertain origin.
Pronunciation
Adjective
frank (strong nominative masculine singular franker, not comparable)
Usage notes
- Now almost exclusively used in the (also somewhat dated) expression frank und frei.
Declension
Positive forms of frank (uncomparable)
Further reading
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Hungarian
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Adjective
frank (not comparable)
- Frankish (of or pertaining to the Franks)
- Frankish (in or of the language of the Franks)
- Franconian (of or relating to Franconia (a region in Bavaria) or its inhabitants)
- Synonym: frankföldi
- Franconian (of or related to their language)
- (rare, archaic) French (of or relating to France, their people, culture, or language)
- Synonym: francia
Declension
Noun
frank (countable and uncountable, plural frankok)
- Frank (Frankish person)
- Frankish (Frankish language)
- Franconian (a native or inhabitant of Franconia)
- Synonym: frankföldi
- Franconian (their language)
- (archaic) French person (Frenchman/Frenchwoman) or their language
- Synonym: (both senses) francia
Declension
Derived terms
- frankos → kékfrankos
Compound words
- Frankföld
- Frankhon
Related terms
- franc
- francia
- franko and frankó
- frankofón
- frankomán
- lingua franca
Etymology 2
Noun
frank (plural frankok)
- franc (current Swiss and other national currency or former French, Belgian, or Luxembourgish currency)
Declension
Derived terms
- frankos
Further reading
- (people or language): frank in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
- (currency): frank in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
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Indonesian
Noun
- frank (coin)
Polish
Etymology
Borrowed from French franc, from Middle French franc, from Medieval Latin Franc, from Frankish *frankō (“a Frank”). Doublet of Frank.
Pronunciation
Noun
frank 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
Declension of frank
Derived terms
adjective
Related terms
adjectives
- frankijski
- frankoński
nouns
- Frank
- Frankonia
- Frankonka
- Frankończyk
Further reading
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