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frank·lin (frăngklĭn)
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n.
A medieval English freeholder of nonnoble birth holding extensive property.

[Middle English frankelein, from Anglo-Norman fraunclein, from Anglo-Norman franc; see FRANK1.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Franklin, Rosalind Elsie 1920-1958.
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British x-ray crystallographer whose studies of DNA provided crucial information that led to the discovery of its spiral structure by Francis Crick and James D. Watson.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Franklin, John Hope 1915-2009.
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American historian noted for his studies of African American history, such as From Slavery to Freedom (1947).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Franklin, Sir John 1786-1847.
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British explorer who led a search for the Northwest Passage (1845-1847) on which he and his 129-man crew died. A record of their discovery of the passage was found in 1859.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
Franklin, Benjamin 1706-1790.
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American public official, writer, scientist, and printer. After the success of his Poor Richard's Almanac (1732-1757), he entered politics and played a major part in the American Revolution. Franklin negotiated French support for the colonists, signed the Treaty of Paris (1783), and helped draft the Constitution (1787-1789). His numerous scientific and practical innovations include the lightning rod, bifocal spectacles, and a stove.
(click for a larger image)
Benjamin Franklin
c. 1785 portrait by Joseph Siffred Duplessis (1725-1802)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.