Frankly

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈfɹæŋkli/

Definitions

1. In a straightforward and candid way, expressing thoughts without hiding feelings
2. Communicating openly and honestly, without trying to soften the truth
3. Speaking plainly and sincerely, without evasion or disguise

Etymology: Frankly is simply frank with the adjective-to-adverb suffix -ly attached, and the suffix itself has a long pedigree. It descends from a Proto-Germanic form meaning "body-like" or "in the shape of," built from a root that gave English "like" and "-ly" its endings. In Old English the ending appeared as -līce, which over the centuries wore down to the -ly we use today. The adjective frank, meaning open and candid, came into English from Old French, where it described a free person, and that older sense of freedom lies behind the modern one. To speak frankly is therefore to speak as someone free to say what they think, without concealment. The adverb is recorded in English as a straightforward extension of the adjective, so the meaning of "in plain speech" follows directly from it.

Synonyms: honestly, openly

Antonyms: deceptively, dishonestly