dictionary definitions for "frank"


From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:

  frank
      adj 1: characterized by directness in manner or speech; without
             subtlety or evasion; "blunt talking and straight
             shooting"; "a blunt New England farmer"; "I gave them
             my candid opinion"; "forthright criticism"; "a
             forthright approach to the problem"; "tell me what you
             think--and you may just as well be frank"; "it is
             possible to be outspoken without being rude";
             "plainspoken and to the point"; "a point-blank
             accusation" [syn: blunt, candid, forthright,
             free-spoken, outspoken, plainspoken,
             point-blank, straight-from-the-shoulder]
      2: clearly manifest; evident; "frank enjoyment"
      n 1: a member of the ancient Germanic peoples who spread from the
           Rhine into the Roman Empire in the 4th century [syn:
           Frank]
      2: a smooth-textured sausage of minced beef or pork usually
         smoked; often served on a bread roll [syn: frankfurter,
         hotdog, hot dog, dog, wiener, wienerwurst,
         weenie]
      v 1: stamp with a postmark to indicate date and time of mailing
           [syn: postmark]
      2: exempt by means of an official pass or letter, as from
         customs or other checks

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  frank \frank\ (fr[a^][ng]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. franked
     (fr[a^][ng]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. franking.]
     1. To send by public conveyance free of expense. --Dickens.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To extempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package,
        or packet, etc.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Frank \Frank\, n. [See Frank, a.]
     The privilege of sending letters or other mail matter, free
     of postage, or without charge; also, the sign, mark, or
     signature denoting that a letter or other mail matter is to
     go free of postage. Called also the franking privilege.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
           I have said so much, that, if I had not a frank, I must
           burn my letter and begin again.          --Cowper.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Frank \Frank\, n. [OF. franc.]
     A pigsty. [Obs.]
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Frank \Frank\, v. t.
     To shut up in a frank or sty; to pen up; hence, to cram; to
     fatten. [Obs.] --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Frank \Frank\, n. (Zool.)
     The common heron; -- so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.]
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  frank \frank\ (fr[a^][ng]k), a. [Compar. franker
     (fr[a^][ng]k"[~e]r); superl. frankest.] [F. franc free,
     frank, L. Francus a Frank, fr. OHG. Franko the name of a
     Germanic people on the Rhine, who afterward founded the
     French monarchy; cf. AS. franca javelin, Icel. frakka. Cf.
     Franc, French, a., Franchise, n.]
     1. Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free. [R.]
        "It is of frank gift." --Spenser.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Free in uttering one's real sentiments; not reserved;
        using no disguise; candid; ingenuous; as, a frank nature,
        conversation, manner, etc.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Liberal; generous; profuse. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Frank of civilities that cost them nothing.
                                                    --L'Estrange.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Unrestrained; loose; licentious; -- used in a bad sense.
        --Spenser.
  
     Syn: Ingenuous; candid; artless; plain; open; unreserved;
          undisguised; sincere. See Candid, Ingenuous.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Frank \Frank\, n. [Cf. F. franc. See Frank, a.]
     1. (Ethnol.) A member of one of the German tribes that in the
        fifth century overran and conquered Gaul, and established
        the kingdom of France.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A native or inhabitant of Western Europe; a European; -- a
        term used in the Levant.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A French coin. See Franc.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 Sep 2003) [foldoc]:

  FRANK
  
     ["Using BINS for Interprocess Communication", P.C.J. Graham,
     SIGPLAN Notices 20(2):32-41 (Feb 1985)].
  
     (1995-01-13)
  


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