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FRANKNESS
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The trait of being blunt and outspoken
Synonyms:
frankness; outspokenness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("frankness" is a kind of...):
communicativeness (the trait of being communicative)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "frankness"):
bluffness (good-natured frankness)
Derivation:
frank (characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
Synonyms:
candidness; candor; candour; directness; forthrightness; frankness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("frankness" is a kind of...):
honestness; honesty (the quality of being honest)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "frankness"):
ingenuousness (openly straightforward or frank)
Derivation:
frank (characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion)
Context examples:
His gentleness was never tinged by dogmatism, and his instructions were given with an air of frankness and good nature that banished every idea of pedantry.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
But when this passed away, when her spirits became collected, when she saw that to the perfect good-breeding of the gentleman, he united frankness and vivacity, and above all, when she heard him declare, that of music and dancing he was passionately fond, she gave him such a look of approbation as secured the largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest of his stay.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
“I will learn frankness from—let me see—from James.”
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Elizabeth coloured and laughed as she replied, Yes, you know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
His confession, told in frankness, with the spirit of revolt behind, had repelled her.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
All this, in frankness, to show my first impression, after long denial of women in general and of Maud Brewster in particular.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
You asked for frankness, Mr. Holmes, and I have taken you at your word, for I have now told you everything without an attempt at circumlocution or concealment.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The friendly frankness was disturbed, the sunshine had a shadow over it, and despite their apparent gaiety, there was a secret discontent in the heart of each.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Besides, I was out of practice in talking to him: his reserve was again frozen over, and my frankness was congealed beneath it.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
But they would have been improved by some share of his frankness and warmth; and her visit was long enough to detract something from their first admiration, by shewing that, though perfectly well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say for herself beyond the most common-place inquiry or remark.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
