~ 1
■ adjective
1》 candid and honest.
↘sincere or undisguised: ~ admiration.
2》 Medicine unmistakable.
Derivatives
~ness noun
Origin
ME (in the sense 'free', also 'generous'): from OFr. franc , from med. L. francus 'free', from Francus (see Frank : only Franks had full freedom in Frankish Gaul).
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~ 2
■ verb stamp an official mark on (a letter or parcel) to indicate that postage has been paid or does not need to be paid.
↘ historical sign (a letter or parcel) to ensure delivery free of charge.
■ noun a ~ing mark on a letter or parcel.
Derivatives
~er noun
~ing noun
Origin
C18: from ~ 1 , an early sense being 'free of obligation'.