forthright

forthright: forthright adj

1 also adv Forthright, downright are comparable because they agree in their basic sense of moving or in the habit of moving straight to the mark.

Forthright (see also STRAIGHTFORWARD) applies to whatever gets its effect by a straight thrust as if of a sword driven by the arm of one person into the breast of another; it therefore usually connotes dexterity, directness, straightforwardness, or a deadly effectiveness

{
reach the good man your hand, my girl: forthright from the shoulder, like a brave boxer— Meredith
}

{
the home thrust of a forthright word— J. R. Lowell
}

{
the practical, forthright, nonargumentative turn of his mind— Farrar
}

Downright, on the other hand, suggests a falling down or descending with the straightness and swiftness of one who leaps from a cliff or of a weapon that delivers a crushing blow. The word, therefore, usually implies crude force rather than dexterity, and concern for the effect produced rather than the point reached; often, in addition, when applied to persons or things it connotes plainness, bluntness, flat-footedness, or an out-and-out quality

{
he . . . shot to the black abyss, and plunged downright— Pope
}

{
sculling against a swift current is work— downright work— Jefferies
}

{
you seem a pretty . . . downright sort of a young woman— Shaw
}

{
a baby. What a coarse, downright word for the little creature— Rose Macaulay
}

{
this admirably downright, if not highly sophisticated, ukase has been cited in almost every trade-secrets case ... since— John Brooks
}

Analogous words: *bluff, blunt, brusque: candid, open, plain, *frank

2 *straightforward, aboveboard

Analogous words: honest, *upright, conscientious, just, honorable

Antonyms: furtive

Contrasted words: *secret, covert, stealthy, surrepti-tious, underhand: mendacious, *dishonest, untruthful, deceitful

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Forthright — Forth right , a. Direct; straightforward; as, a forthright man. [Archaic] Lowell. [1913 Webster] They were Night and Day, and Day and Night, Piligrims wight with steps forthright. Emerson. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
forthright — I adjective blunt, bona fide, candid, direct, downright, emphatic, exact, explicit, factual, frank, genuine, honest, ingenuous, outspoken, plain spoken, positive, scrupulous, simple, sincere, straight, straightforward, unadorned, unaffected,… … Law dictionary
Forthright — Forth right (? or ?), adv. [Forth, adv. + right, adv.] Straight forward; in a straight direction. [Archaic] Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Forthright — Forth right , n. A straight path. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] Here s a maze trod, indeed, Through forthrights and meanders! Shak. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
forthright — O.E. forðriht direct, plain; see FORTH (Cf. forth) + RIGHT (Cf. right). Related: Forthrightly; forthrightness … Etymology dictionary
forthright — [adj] straightforward, honest aboveboard, bald, blunt, call a spade a spade*, candid, categorical, direct, directly, forward, frank, from the hip*, like it is*, no lie*, open, outspoken, plain, plainspoken, real, simple, sincere, straight,… … New thesaurus
forthright — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ direct and outspoken. DERIVATIVES forthrightly adverb forthrightness noun. ORIGIN Old English … English terms dictionary
forthright — [fôrth′ rīt΄] adj. [ME < OE forth riht: see FORTH & RIGHT] 1. Archaic going straight forward 2. straightforward; direct; frank adv. 1. straight forward; directly onward 2. Archaic immediately; at once … English World dictionary
forthright — forthrightness, n. adj., n. /fawrth ruyt , fohrth /; adv. /fawrth ruyt , fohrth , fawrth ruyt , fohrth /, adj. 1. going straight to the point; frank; direct; outspoken: It s sometimes difficult to be forthright and not give offense. 2. proceeding … Universalium
forthright — I. adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English forthriht, from forth + riht right Date: before 12th century 1. archaic a. directly forward b. without hesitation ; frankly 2. archaic at once … New Collegiate Dictionary

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