| 释义 |
frankness|ˈfræŋknɪs|
[f. frank a.2 + -ness.]
The quality of being frank.
†1. Liberality, bounteousness, generosity. Also, luxuriance. Obs.
1591Percivall Sp. Dict., Largueza, franknes. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxii. §2 To take downe the frankenesse of nature, and to tame the wildnesse of flesh. 1711Hearne Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.) III. 124, I requested that you might see it; which, with his usual Frankness, he readyly granted. 1738Lucca's Mem. Pref. vi, Whether it be on account of their Power at Sea, or their Frankness in spending their Money. 1762–71H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) III. 64 He..kept a great table, and often pressed the king for money with a freedom which his majesty's own frankness indulged.
2. Freedom of address or manner; absence of disguise, reserve, or suspicion; candour, ingenuousness, openness.
1668Temple Let. Sir O. Bridgman Wks. 1731 II. 55 He would return my Frankness to him with the same to me. 1751Johnson Rambler No. 174 ⁋7 To expose the levities of frankness. 1816J. Scott Vis. Paris (ed. 5) 28 The servants come with an air of frankness to assist him to alight. 1840Arnold Hist. Rome II. 346 Fabius had experienced also the noble frankness of Decius' nature. 1858Froude Hist. Eng. IV. xviii. 54 The King..implored his nephew to meet his overtures with the frankness with which they were made. 1875Helps Ess., Secrecy 53 That happy union of frankness and reserve..comes not by studying rules.
b. esp. in speech: Outspokenness. More fully, frankness of speech (in early use = ‘liberty of speech’).
1553Brende Q. Curtius viii. 159 All the libertie and franckenes of speache being taken away. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §77 The Other..declared with a very unnecessary Frankness, ‘that he would have no Friendship..with him’. 1729T. Cooke Tales, Proposals, etc. 57 What from the Frankness of your Soul you say The Fool may tattel, and the Knave betray. 1776Gibbon Decl. & F. I. 357 Profound dissimulation under the disguise of military frankness. 1823Lamb Elia (1860) 132 She confessed, with her usual frankness, that she had no sort of dislike to his attentions. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xxiv. 168, I shall offend them..by my frankness in stating this. 1886Academy 30 Jan. 83/3 Certain roughnesses and franknesses of expression.
3. Freedom of artistic treatment.
1784J. Barry in Lect. Paint. vi. (1848) 221 A great work in fresco..requires..spirit, frankness, decision. 1849Ruskin Sev. Lamps v. §v. 140 Two very distinguishing characters of vital imitation are, its Frankness and Audacity. |