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Webster 1913 Edition

Enfranchise

En-fran′chise

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Enfranchised
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Enfranchising
.]
[Pref.
en-
+
franchise
: cf. F.
enfranchir
.]
1.
To set free; to liberate from slavery, prison, or any binding power.
Bacon.
2.
To endow with a franchise; to incorporate into a body politic and thus to invest with civil and political privileges; to admit to the privileges of a freeman; to give the right to vote.
3.
To receive as denizens; to naturalize;
as, to
enfranchise
foreign words
.
I. Watts.

Definition 2024

enfranchise

enfranchise

English

Verb

enfranchise ‎(third-person singular simple present enfranchises, present participle enfranchising, simple past and past participle enfranchised)

  1. To grant the franchise to an entity, specifically:
    1. To grant the privilege of voting to a person or group of people.
    2. To grant municipal or parliamentary rights to an entity such as a city or constituency.
    3. To grant freedom from slavery or servitude.
Translations

Related terms

Etymology

From Old French enfranchir ‎(“to set free, enfranchise”), from en- ‎(“in”) + franchir ‎(“to set free”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛnˈfɹænt͡ʃaɪz/

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