rankly

Ⅰ.

rank [1] ► NOUN 1) a position within a fixed hierarchy, especially that of the armed forces. 2) high social standing. 3) a single line of soldiers or police officers drawn up abreast. 4) (the ranks) (in the armed forces) those who are not commissioned officers. 5) (ranks) the people belonging to or constituting a group or class: the ranks of the unemployed. 6) Chess each of the eight rows of eight squares running from side to side across a chessboard. Compare with FILE(Cf. ↑filing).

► VERB 1) give (someone or something) a rank within a grading system. 2) hold a specified rank. 3) US take precedence over (someone) in respect to rank. 4) arrange in a row or rows.

● break rank (or ranks) — Cf. ↑break ranks

● close ranks — Cf. ↑close ranks

● pull rank — Cf. ↑pull rank

● rank and file — Cf. ↑rank and file

ORIGIN Old French ranc; related to RING(Cf. ↑ringless).

Ⅱ.

rank [2] ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of vegetation) growing too thickly. 2) having a foul smell. 3) complete and utter: a rank amateur.

DERIVATIVES rankly adverb rankness noun.

ORIGIN Old English, «proud, rebellious, sturdy», also «fully grown».