ENGLISH
REFERENCE

francis

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈfɹænsəs// fran·cis Archaic

n. a common name for a man or boy. It has been a popular name for many famous people, including kings and religious leaders.

n. a masculine given name of Latin origin, meaning 'Frenchman' or 'free man'. When used as a proper name, it is always capitalised.


SIMPLE

Francis is a very traditional name in my family.

CONTEXTUAL

The new employee introduced himself as Francis, though most of his friends call him Frank.

COMPLEX

Throughout European history, the name Francis has been borne by numerous monarchs and saints, reflecting its deep roots in both political and religious traditions.

Origin

From Medieval Latin Franciscus (“French(man)”) (from Francia (“France”)). Doublet of Francisco and Franz.

Usage

As a proper name, it is always capitalised. The feminine version is typically spelled 'Frances'.

Pitfall

My sister's name is Francis.My sister's name is Frances.In English, 'Francis' is the masculine spelling, while 'Frances' is the feminine spelling.

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