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ENFRANCHISE

 - 4 dictionary results

en⋅fran⋅chise

  [en-fran-chahyz]
Use ENFRANCHISE in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -chised, -chis⋅ing.
1. to grant a franchise to; admit to citizenship, esp. to the right of voting.
2. to endow (a city, constituency, etc.) with municipal or parliamentary rights.
3. to set free; liberate, as from slavery.
Also, franchise.

Origin:
1505–15; < MF, OF enfranchiss- (long s. of enfranchir to free), equiv. to en- en- 1 + franch- free (see frank 1 ) + iss- -ish 2

Related forms:
en⋅fran⋅chise⋅ment  [en-fran-chahyz-muhnt, -chiz-] , noun
en⋅fran⋅chis⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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en·fran·chise   (ěn-frān'chīz')   
tr.v.   en·fran·chised, en·fran·chis·ing, en·fran·chis·es

  1. To bestow a franchise on.

  2. To endow with the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote.

  3. To free, as from bondage.


[Middle English enfraunchisen, from Old French enfranchir, enfranchiss-, to set free : en-, intensive pref.; see en-1 + franchir (from franc, free; see frank1).]
en·fran'chise'ment n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

enfranchise 
1531, from O.Fr. enfranchiss-, extended stem of enfranchir, from en- "make, put in" + franc "free" (see franchise).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: en·fran·chise
Pronunciation: in-'fran-"chIz
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -chised; -chis·ing
: to grant franchise to; especially : to admit to the privileges of a citizen and esp. to voting rights enfranchised all citizens over 18 years of age> —compare EMANCIPATE
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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