Dictionary

enfranchise en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ɛnˈfɹænt͡ʃaɪz/

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (transitive) To grant the franchise to an entity, specifically: ▸ To grant the privilege of voting to a person or group of people.
2. (transitive) To grant the franchise to an entity, specifically: ▸ To grant municipal or parliamentary rights to an entity such as a city or constituency.
3. (transitive) To grant the franchise to an entity, specifically: ▸ To grant freedom from slavery, duty or servitude.
   • Parental control had been so decisive in Louisa's case that marriage bonds had not hitherto enfranchised her from the former; she, therefore, at the proper time of light, appeared on the arm of Signor Riccardini, and laid her purse on the lap of her mother (who she knew had at least three hundred pounds in possession), at the risk of being deemed extravagant by her husband. 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XLVI, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 288:
4. (England, Wales, historical) to convert a copyhold estate into a freehold estate

Forms

Deriveds

enfranchiser · enfranchisement · enfranchisable

Relateds

franchise · disenfranchise

Translations (20)

fi myöntää kaupunkioikeudet (to grant municipal or parliamentary rights) · nl stemrecht verlenen (to grant the privilege of voting) · fi antaa äänioikeus (to grant the privilege of voting) · hu felszabadít (to grant freedom from servitude) · sv frige (to grant freedom from servitude) · es enfranquecer (to grant freedom from servitude) · hy ազատել (to grant freedom from servitude) · sv ge stadsprivilegier (to grant municipal or parliamentary rights) · ru дава́ть избира́тельное пра́во (to grant the privilege of voting) · sv ge stadsrättigheter (to grant municipal or parliamentary rights) · ru освобожда́ть (to grant freedom from servitude) · sv ge rösträtt (to grant the privilege of voting) · nl stadsrecht verlenen (to grant municipal or parliamentary rights) · hy ընտրական իրավունք տալ (to grant the privilege of voting) · fi vapauttaa (to grant freedom from servitude) · sv befria (to grant freedom from servitude) · nl bevrijden van slavernij (to grant freedom from servitude) · fi perustaa vaalipiiri (to grant municipal or parliamentary rights) · ru освободи́ть (to grant freedom from servitude) · hy ազատագրել (to grant freedom from servitude)