Where does “frankly” come from?
Frankly derives from Middle English -ly adverb suffix added to frank, from Latin Francus meaning a Frank, from Frankish Frank, from Proto-Germanic galīkaz, blending Proto-Indo-European līg- and ḱóm.
frankly (English): In a frank, open or honest manner; In truth, to...
Definitions
- In a frank, open or honest manner; In truth, to...
Ancestry of “frankly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Frank | One of the Franks, a Germanic federation that... |
| 2 | French | Franc | Frank |
| 3 | Middle French | franc | franc; noble |
| 4 | Old French | Franc | French |
| 5 | Latin | francus | franc; a Frenchman; Frank, of or pertaining to... |
| 6 | Frankish | frank | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | frankô | spear, javelin; a Frank |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | prAng- | pole, stalk |