Frank a.²

Forms: 4 franc, 5–6 franke, 6–7 franck(e, (6 francque), 5– frank, [a. OF.; franc (= Pr. franc, Sp., Pg., It. franco):—med.Lat. francus free; originally identical with the ethnic name Francus (see FRANK sb.¹), which acquired the sense of ‘free’ because in Frankish Gaul full freedom was possessed only by those belonging to, or adopted into, the dominant people.

  Cf. the use of the originally ethnic name SLAVE, and of OE. wealh, orig. ‘Welshman,’ to denote a person of servile condition.]

  1.  = FREE in various applications of the word; often frank and free. † a. Free in condition; not in serfdom or slavery. Obs.

  The meaning of the first quot. is doubtful: perh. = 2.

c. 1300.  Maximian, 157 (Digby MS.), in Anglia, III. 280.

a. 1470.  Tiptoft, Cæsar (1530), 13. He was frank & free borne in a free cytye.

1574.  trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 40 a. The pleyntyfe sayethe that hee is franke and of free estate and noe vylleyne.

  † b.  Free to come and go; released from captivity. Also frank and quit; cf. Fr. franc et quitte (Commines), Anglo-L. liber et quietus. Obs.

1475.  The Boke of Noblesse, 66. He shulde labour and sende to Rome forto deliver out of prison a gret nombre of yong men of werre of Cartage that were prisoneris in Rome, and he shulde goo frank and quite.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, xliii. 143. He and all his company shall deperte franke and free at there pleasure.

1633.  J. Done, Hist. Septuagint, 25. All the Jewes that … have been taken … shall be sent francke and free.

  † c.  Free from restraint or impediment; unrestricted, unchecked. Const. of. Of a wind: Steady (cf. Fr. vent franc). Obs.

1481.  Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 40–1. Yf the foxe was tho mery and glad it was no wonder, ffor he was quyte of his deth and was alle free and franke of alle his enemyes.

1531–2.  Act 23 Hen. VIII., c. 18. Many shippes … haue … had their franke passages without let impedimente or interruption.

1538.  Starkey, England, I. ii. 53. Euery one of them by theyr custume and nature, are desyrouse of frank lyberty and and hye authoryte.

1559.  in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. App. viii. 22. Elections to Ecclesiasticall Dignities in Tymes past usyd in divers manners: And when franke Election first beganne; and how soone it hath been established.

1570.  B. Googe, Pop. Kingd., I. i. 46.

1579.  Fenton, Guicciard., II. (1590), 30. He offered him in the name of his father King Alphonso, franke power to dispose of him and his armie.

1624.  Wotton, Archit., in Reliq. (1672), 35. A frank light can mis-become no Ædifice whatsoever, Temples only excepted.

1628.  F. Fletcher, World Encomp., 45. Being glad oftentimes to alter our course, and to fall asterne againe, with francke winde [etc.].

  † d.  Free from obligation in respect of payments or other conditions; free of charge; unconditional. Frank traffic = FREE TRADE. Obs.

1525.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. ccxxii. [ccxviii.] 685. Desyre, that seynge he hath peace with his enemyes, that ye may be franke and fre fro all subsydies and aydes.

1534.  More, Treat. Passion, Wks. 1286/2. Landes to the yearelye valure of one hundred pounde, franke and free simpliciter and wythout anye condicion woulde gyue hym farther other landes [etc.].

1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 391 b. Let Pardons be as francke and free as they would seeme to be for me.

1591.  Spenser, M. Hubberd, 531.

1599.  Hakluyt, Voy., II. 210. There is a faire free and franke of al custome.

1659.  Pearson, Creed, x. 517. We are the debters, and our debts are sins, and the creditor is God: the remission of our sins is the frank forgiving of our debts, and for that we are obliged to return our love.

1660.  F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 405. All nations heretofore went thither by reason of franck traffick; but now they must pay tribute, all but the French, who enjoy the same immunities as the Portuguese.

1727.  Pope, etc., Of the Art of Sinking in Poetry, 122. Separate divisions for the two houses of parliament, my lords the judges, the honourable the directors of the academy, and the court of aldermen, who shall all have their places frank.

  † e.  Free from anxiety, unburdened. Obs.

c. 1477.  Caxton, Jason, 104. The goode shipman began to rowe with a franck corage.

1558.  Bp. Watson, Sev. Sacram., xxvi. 168. To minister vnto their necessary sustenaunce sufficientlye with a franke harte and a good wyll.

  2.  Liberal, bounteous, generous, lavish, esp. in dealing with money. Const. † of. † Frank house = ‘open house.’

1484.  Caxton, Chivalry, 92. Chyualrye and Fraunchyse accorden to gyder … the knyght must be free and franke.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., iv. 13. Through whose good counsell giuen, great pains taken, and franke distribution of that he had, many of our men were recouerd, which would otherwise haue died.

1587.  Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1299/1. Hir highnesse came to my lord Norths, who was no whit behind anie of the best for a franke house, a noble heart, and well ordered interteiaement.

1588.  Marprel. Epist. (Arb.), 39. I would wish you not to be so francke with your bribes.

1608–11.  Bp. Hall, Medit. & Vowes, iii. § 32. The world like a frank chapman, sayes, All these will I giue thee, shewing vs his bagges, and promotions, and thrusting them into our hands.

a. 1639.  Wotton, in Gutch, Coll. Cur., I. 217. Alexander drave it somewhat farther by sending [his Banner] to this invasion; for they have always been frank of their blessings to countenance any great action.

1672.  Dryden, Marriage à la Mode, Dedication. You are endued with that excellent Quality of a frank Nature, to forget the good which you have done.

1676.  Etheredge, Man of Mode, V. i.

1851.  Carlyle, Sterling, III. vi. (1872), 219. He removed thither in June of this year 1843; and set about improvements and adjustments on a frank scale.

1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. i. 43. In such frank style the people lived, hating three things with all their hearts: idleness, want, and cowardice; and for the rest, carrying their hearts high, and having their hands full.

  † b.  in bad sense (of a woman).

1735.  Pope, Ep. Lady, 71.

  c.  Of a horse: Frank to the road = FREE a. 20 c.

1816.  Scott, Antiq., xl. ‘He’s very frank to the road.’

  3.  a. Not practising concealment; ingenuous, open, sincere. Of feelings: Undisguised.

1555.  W. Watreman, Fardle Facions, App. 321. The bondeman … lacketh the francque noblenes of minde.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 38.

1656.  W. Montague, trans. The Accomplish’d Woman, 11. Quick and lively humours are readier and franker; but then the Melancholy are the discreeter and more confident.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 146. We dined together in a most pleasant, easy, and frank manner.

1797.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, i. Frank in his temper, ingenuous in his sentiments.

1815.  Elphinstone, Acc. Caubul (1842), I. 323. The manners of the Afghauns are frank and open.

1847–8.  H. Miller, First Impr., v. (1857), 63. The English are by much a franker people than the Scotch.

1873.  Black, Pr. Thule, vi. 93. With a look of frank gratitude in her eyes.

  b.  With reference to speech: Candid, outspoken, unreserved.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par., Matt. xi. 10. Whome he folowed also in franke reprouing of kinges.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., I. ii. 244.

1660.  Ormond, Lett. to Cowley, in Academy (1893), 7 Oct., 296/2. Certainely an ingenuous and frank recantation, and such an addresse as may expresse your repentance for them, will not misbecome you.

1790.  Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 251. In their [the French] conversation frank and open.

1828.  Carlyle, Misc. (1857), I. 131. How frank and downright in speech.

1849.  Thackeray, Pendennis, xvi. The honest frank boy just returned from school is secretly speculating upon the money you will give him, and the debts he owes the tart-man.

1870.  Mrs. Riddell, Austin Friars, I. ii. 27. You may as well be frank with me, for it cannot serve your purpose now to be otherwise.

  c.  Avowed, undisguised; downright.

1752.  Warburton, Wks., 1811, IX. vi. 135–6. The Founders of empires and false religions, which these Artists contrived should support one another, were frank Enthusiasts.

1849.  Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, iv. § 2. 95. Further than this, man’s invention could not reach without frank imitation.

1877.  Daily News, 27 Dec., 6/2. What may be effected by frank force remains to be seen.

1887.  Med. News, L. 12 March, 306/1. The gastric appearances somewhat resembled those shown in a case of death after operation for removal of the uterine appendage, although there frank peritonitis coexisted.

  † 4.  Of plants, trees, etc.: Of superior quality for the purpose to which they are applied; producing good and abundant fruit, or the like. Often applied to cultivated as opposed to wild plants. Of drugs, etc.: Of high quality, valuable. Cf. FRANKINCENSE. Obs.

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, C ij b. Take powder of Canell and the Juce of franke cost.

1572.  L. Mascall, Plant. & Graff. (1592), 52. Take your cyons of a Peache tree that doth soone blossome in the spring time, and graffe them vpon a frank Mulbery tree, and he shall bring of Peaches two monethes before others.

1574.  Hyll, Planting, 85. All sortes of franke trees, as also wilde trees of nature, may be graft with graffes.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, II. lxxvii. 250. There be two sortes of Sage, the one is small and franke, and the other is great. Ibid., VI. lxvii. 743. The seconde kind of Withy called the Franke Ozier hath no great stemme.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 369. The greatest price of the garden frank-Myrrh, or that which is set by mans hand is 22 deniers.

1647–8.  Cotterell, Davila’s Hist. Fr. (1678), 39. The Guises had governed with supreme authority under the late King, and with great constancy applied all manner of frank remedies to recover the prosperity and peace of the State.

  † 5.  Luxuriant in growth, lusty, vigorous. Obs.

1550.  Bale, Image Both Ch., IX. I iv. When they were ones franke & fatt, they stode vp together proudely againste the Lorde. Ibid., K j. I behelde in a visyon the horses, franke, fatte, and fearce.

1555.  W. Watreman, Fardle Facions, I. i. 24. The graciousnes of the earth was also abated, and the francke fertilitie therof … withdrawen.

1591.  Spenser, Muiopotmos, 148.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 540. The Sap is not so francke as to rise all to the Boughes, but tireth by the way, and putteth out Mosse.

  6.  Comb., chiefly parasynthetic, as † frank-born, -faced, † -handed, -hearted (whence frank-heartedness) adjs.; † franklike adv.

1600.  Holland, Livy, XLV. xxiv. (1609), 1217. All of us in Rhodes *franke-borne and of free condition.

1873.  A. Dobson, Vignettes in Rhyme, Sundial, xii.

a. 1626[?].  Breton, Mad World (Grosart), 8. Now I that hoped to have found so gallant a wench, as *franck-handed, as free-hearted, and as liberall for love, as ready for entertainment, found that artificiall beauty was but a shadow.

1644.  J. Bulwer, Chirologia, 62. And there is a tradition our Midwives have concerning children borne OPEN HANDED, that such will prove of a bountifull disposition, and franke-handed.

a. 1600.  Hooker, Serm., Hab. ii. 4, Wks. 1888, III. 604. For, as Judas’s care for the poor was mere covetousness; and that *frank-hearted wastefulness spoken of in the gospel, thrift; so, there is no doubt, that going in rags may be pride, and thrones be clothed with unfeigned humility.

1813.  Scott, Trierm., I. xi.

1571.  Golding, Calvin on Ps. lxviii. 10. Signifieth an unconstreyned willingnesse, or a meere *frankhartednesse.

1587.  Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 89.