different between frankly vs freely

English

Etymology

From frank +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f?æ?kli/
• Hyphenation: frank?ly

Adverb

frankly (comparative franklier or more frankly, superlative frankliest or most frankly)

1. In a frank or candid manner, especially in a way that may seem too open, excessively honest, or slightly blunt.

   • She was frankly disappointed. For some reason she had thought to discover a burglar of one or another accepted type—either a dashing cracksman in full-blown evening dress, lithe, polished, pantherish, or a common yegg, a red-eyed, unshaven burly brute in the rags and tatters of a tramp.

2. (sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth.

   Most of what they said was, frankly, a pack of lies.

Synonyms

• (manner): candidly, forthcomingly, honestly, truthfully; bluntly; see also Thesaurus:honestly
• (sentence adverb): as a matter of fact, truth to tell; see also Thesaurus:actually

Translations

English

Pronunciation

• (US) enPR: fr?'l?, IPA^(key): /?f?ili/
• Rhymes: -i?li

Etymology 1

From Middle English frely, freelich, from Old English fr?ol?c (“free, freeborn, glorious, stately, magnificent, noble, beautiful, charming”), equivalent to free +? -ly. Compare Middle Low German vrilik, vrigelik (“free”), Middle High German vr?lich (“free”).

Alternative forms

• frely (Scotland)

Adjective

freely (comparative freelier or more freely, superlative freeliest or most freely)

1. Free; frank.
2. Generous; noble; excellent; beautiful; lovely.

Derived terms

• unfreely

Etymology 2

From Middle English frely, freliche, from Old English fr?ol??e (“freely, readily, as a festival”), equivalent to free +? -ly. Compare Dutch vrijelijk (“freely”), German freilich (“certainly, of course”).

Adverb

freely (comparative freelier or more freely, superlative freeliest or most freely)

1. In a free manner.

2. Without interference or restriction.

   talk freely
3. Of one's own free will.

   I will freely help you.

Related terms

• frankly
• openly
• costlessly

Translations

References

• “freely”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.