franklin
English meaning: Franklin
Definition
A freeholder, especially as belonging to a class of landowners in the 14th and 15th century ranking below the gentry.
Example
“The prosperous franklin owned several fields and a fine manor house.”
Another example: “In Chaucer's tale, the franklin is portrayed as generous and hospitable.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Historical/literary as a common noun (a medieval freeholder ranking below the gentry, familiar from Chaucer's 'The Franklin's Tale'); far more common today as a surname (e.g. Benjamin Franklin) or place name. The common-noun sense is dated.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Anglo-French 'fraunclein', from Medieval Latin 'francus' (free); 13th–14th century.
Synonyms
- freeholder
- landowner
- yeoman
Related Words
- delano
- roosevelt
- pierce
- furnace
- truman
- eleanor
- mint
- township
- benjamin
- marshall
Common Collocations
- a wealthy franklin
- the franklin's tale
- franklin's estate
- country franklin
Word Forms
franklin (n); franklins (pl)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B