释义 |
frank I. \ˈfraŋk, -aiŋk\ noun (-s) Usage: capitalized Etymology: Middle English Frank, Franc, partly from Old English Franca; partly from Old French Franc, from Late Latin Francus, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German Franko Frank, Old English Franca 1. : a member of one of the West Germanic peoples entering the Roman provinces in A.D.253, occupying the Netherlands and most of Gaul, and shortly afterward establishing themselves in two divisions along the lower and middle Rhine 2. : a western European < Europeans are still called Franks in the Levant — Emil Lengyel > II. adjective (-er/-est) Etymology: Middle English, from Old French franc, from Medieval Latin francus, from Late Latin Francus, n., Frank 1. obsolete a. : free from bondage or restraint b. : free of charge or other conditions : unconditional 2. archaic : liberal, generous, profuse 3. obsolete a. : superior in quality or strength b. : luxuriant, rank, vigorous 4. a. : marked by free unrestrained willing expression of facts, opinions, or feelings without reticence, inhibition, or concealment < forthright comments from a frank critic > < a kindly but frank warning > < most frank in his confession of entire disbelief in the legends which … almost all thought it decent to pretend to credit — J.A.Froude > b. : marked by or suggestive of freedom and honesty in expression : lacking concealment, dissembling, or guile < suspicion or hostility dispelled by a frank smile > 5. a. : lacking disguise or masking : bluntly or honestly avowed : downright and clearly obvious : sheer and utter without reservation, mitigation, or inhibition < the mixture of the idea of evolution with the frank materialism of Haeckel and the subtle agnosticism of Huxley — R.W.Murray > < her mouth was painted ripely with mauve as if in frank appeal to be kissed — Edmund Wilson > b. medicine : unmistakable, manifest : clinically evident < frank pus > < frank anemia > Synonyms: candid, open, plain: frank may suggest a willingness to express oneself in a free and forthright way, without reservations or modifications brought about by timidity, evasiveness, or tact < intelligent enough to realize just what all the theorists of his age were actually doing, and frank enough to announce it openly — J.H.Randall > < I have now told you everything without an attempt of circumlocution or concealment. Do you in your turn be as frank with me — A. Conan Doyle > < his notorious comment — which the American democrat has never forgiven him, “The people! — the people is a great beast!” — was characteristically frank — V.L. Parrington > candid may suggest a sincerity and honesty marked by straightforward expression without evasion or expedient reservation < I am sure that he was candid with me. I am certain that he had no guile — W.A.White > < as a leader of our party for 10 years I have never lacked candid critics in my own ranks — Clement Attlee > open may imply an inclination to ready, free, natural, honest expression lacking concealment or reserve < wished her children would be more open with her and not have so many secrets among themselves > < the absurdity of her remark moved him to open taunts > plain may stress simple straightforward expression not mollified by tact or complicated by erudite language < the admiral … made the following signal in plain language: “Will be compelled to return fire” — Emil Lengyel > < the difference between ordinary phraseology that makes its meaning plain and legal phraseology that makes its meaning certain — Ernest Gowers > III. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) 1. a. : to mark (a piece of mail) with an official signature indicating the right of the sender to free mailing b. : to mark (mail) with a sign indicating the right of the sender to exemption from postage c. : to send by mail at no expense to the sender d. : to affix to (mail) a stamp or a marking indicating the payment of postage : put a postage stamp on < a cover franked with two 3-cent stamps > < he franked his business mail with meter impressions > e. : to label (mail) as having the postage paid < a commemorative stamp franked the letter > f. : to mark (mail) with a postal marking of any kind 2. : to facilitate the passage of : help forward : enable to pass or go freely or easily 3. : to make immune (as by a pass inscribed with an official signature) : exempt, free < court functionaries drew up in motorcars to my hotel, and presented me with a case all over seals and imperial devices franking me through the customs houses of the universe — W.J.Locke > IV. noun (-s) Etymology: frank (III) 1. a. : the signature of the sender on a piece of franked mail serving in place of a postage stamp b. : a mark or stamp on a piece of mail indicating postage paid < a meter frank on business mail > c. : a franked envelope or cover 2. : the privilege of sending mail free of charge V. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French franc pigsty, from Old Low Franconian hranne, chramne; akin to Old Saxon hrama frame, and perhaps to Greek kremannynai to hang — more at cremaster obsolete : a sty for boars VI. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English franken, from frank (V) obsolete : to shut up (a boar) in a frank especially for fattening VII. noun (-s) Etymology: frank (VI); from its fattening properties obsolete : spurry VIII. \ˈfraŋk, -raaŋk\ noun (-s) Etymology: imitative of its cry dialect Britain : a common European heron (Ardea cinerea) IX. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: origin unknown : to join or frame together (as molded sash bars) by mitering to the depth of the molding and cutting off the rest of each abutting piece square or finishing with a mortise-and-tenon joint X. noun (-s) Etymology: German & Flemish, from French franc — more at franc : franc 2b XI. noun (-s) Etymology: by shortening : frankfurter |