frank

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈfɹæŋk/ See IPA manual

Freq #798

Meanings

1

adj
Honest and direct, even when the truth may be uncomfortable.

May I be frank with you about your work?

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · honest and direct, even... candid undisguised unreserved honest

Word family

Forms frankedfrankerfrankestfrankingfranks

Derived forms frank-feefrank-marriagefrankablefrankly frankness frankpledgefranksomeoverfrankprefrankedunfrankunfranked

Related forms prepay

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

frank talk
an open and direct conversation

Adjective + noun
frank enjoyment
pleasure that is openly shown rather than hidden

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Frank entered English in the Middle English period from French franc, “free.” That French word was associated historically with the Franks, the conquering people who gave France its name and who alone were fully free in early medieval France; franchise and enfranchise share this source.

Etymology

From Middle English Frank, partially from Old English Franca (“a Frank”); and partially from Old French Franc, and/or Latin Francus (“a Frank”), from Frankish *Franko (“a Frank”); both maybe from Proto-Germanic *frankô (“javelin”). Cognate with Old High German Franko (“a Frank”), Old English franca (“spear, javelin”). Compare Saxon, ultimately a derivative of Proto-Germanic *sahsą (“knife, dagger”). Doublet of franc, frank, and farang.

Frank Middle English Franca Old English Franc Old French Francus Latin *Franko frk *frankô Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# frank

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈfɹæŋk/
**Frequency rank:** 798

## Meanings
1. Honest and direct, even when the truth may be uncomfortable.

## Examples
- May I be frank with you about your work?

## Derived Forms
- frank-fee
- frank-marriage
- frankable
- frankly
- frankness
- frankpledge
- franksome
- overfrank
- prefranked
- unfrank
- unfranked

## Related Forms
- prepay

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: Frank
- Root: Franca
- Root: Franc
- Root: Francus
- Root: *Franko
- Root: *frankô

## Etymology
From Middle English Frank, partially from Old English Franca (“a Frank”); and partially from Old French Franc, and/or Latin Francus (“a Frank”), from Frankish *Franko (“a Frank”); both maybe from Proto-Germanic *frankô (“javelin”). Cognate with Old High German Franko (“a Frank”), Old English franca (“spear, javelin”). Compare Saxon, ultimately a derivative of Proto-Germanic *sahsą (“knife, dagger”). Doublet of franc, frank, and farang.

## AI Etymology
Frank comes from Middle English Frank, partially from Old English Franca (“a Frank”); and partially from Old French Franc, and/or Latin Francus (“a Frank”), from Frankish *Franko (“a Frank”); both maybe from Proto-Germanic *frankô (“javelin”). Cognate with Old High German Franko (“a Frank”), Old English franca (“spear, javelin”). Compare Saxon, ultimately a derivative of Proto-Germanic *sahsą (“knife, dagger”). Doublet of franc, frank, and farang. In current use, the main sense is “Honest and direct, even when the truth may be uncomfortable”.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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