Frankest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Exhibiting the utmost degree of candor and openness in communication demonstrates profound straightforwardness and clarity in expressing thoughts
2. Being characterized by the highest level of honesty and plain speech without concealment or evasion
3. Showing a remarkable level of openness and straightforwardness in sharing opinions or information

Etymology: "Frankest" is the superlative of "frank", so the story belongs to the base word. The adjective traces back to the Franks, the Germanic people whose name also gave France its name. Their name is thought to come from a Proto-Germanic word meaning "javelin" or "spear", and in Old French "franc" came to mean "free", perhaps because the Franks were a free people compared with the servants and serfs around them. That sense of freedom passed into Middle English as "frank", meaning free or generous. The move from "free" to "candid" happened gradually. Being free of restraint or reserve in speech led naturally to saying exactly what one thinks, and "frank" came to describe open, unreserved talk. The superlative "frankest" therefore describes the most openly honest speech or manner, a meaning built on the idea of freedom from concealment.

Synonyms: most honest, most candid

Antonyms: most deceitful, most dishonest