enfranchise
en·fran·chise
verb \in-ˈfran-ˌchīz, en-\en·fran·chiseden·fran·chis·ing
Definition of ENFRANCHISE
transitive verb
1
: to set free (as from slavery)
2
: to endow with a franchise: as a : to admit to the privileges of a citizen and especially to the right of suffrage b : to admit (a municipality) to political privileges or rights
— en·fran·chise·ment \-ˌchīz-mənt, -chəz-\ noun
See Examples of ENFRANCHISE
- <in a way, modern labor-saving appliances enfranchised people, giving them much more leisure time>
Origin of ENFRANCHISE
Middle English, from Anglo-French enfranchiss-, stem of enfranchir, from en- + franc free — more at frank
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to ENFRANCHISE
Related Words: bail (out), deliver, parole, ransom, redeem, rescue, save; adrift, disembarrass, disencumber, disengage, disentangle, extricate; unshackle
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