enfranchise

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: en=fran=chise

CIDE DICTIONARY

enfranchise, v. t. [Pref. en- + franchise: cf. F. enfranchir.].

•  To set free; to liberate from slavery, prison, or any binding power.  Bacon.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  To receive as denizens; to naturalize; as, to enfranchise foreign words.  I. Watts.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

enfranchise, v.tr.
1 give (a person) the right to vote.
2 give (a town) municipal rights, esp. that of representation in parliament.
3 hist. free (a slave, villein, etc.).

Derivative

enfranchisement n.

Etymology

OF enfranchir (as EN-(1), franc franche FRANK)

THESAURUS

enfranchise

affranchise, authorize, certificate, certify, charter, deliver, disenthrall, emancipate, empower, enable, entitle, extricate, franchise, free, give official sanction, give power, legalize, legitimize, liberate, license, manumit, patent, privilege, ratify, release, rescue, sanction, set at large, set at liberty, set free, validate, warrant

ROGET THESAURUS

enfranchise

Freedom

VB be free, have scope, have the run of, have one's own way, have a will of one's own, have one's fling, do what one likes, do what one wishes, do what one pleases, do what one chooses, go at large, feel at home, paddle one's own canoe, stand on one's legs, stand on one's rights, shift for oneself, take a liberty, make free with, make oneself quite at home, use a freedom, take leave, take French leave, set free, give a loose to, allow scope, to, give scope, to, give a horse his head, make free of, give the freedom of, give the franchise, enfranchise, affranchise, laisser faire, laisser aller, live and let live, leave to oneself, leave alone, let alone.

Liberation

VB liberate, free, set free, set clear, set at liberty, render free, emancipate, release, enfranchise, affranchise, manumit, enlarge, disband, discharge, disenthrall, disenthral, dismiss, let go, let loose, loose, let out, let slip, cast adrift, turn adrift, deliver, absolve, unfetter &c, untie, loose, loosen, relax, unbolt, unbar, unclose, uncork, unclog, unhand, unbind, unchain, unharness, unleash, disengage, disentangle, clear, extricate, unloose, gain one's liberty, obtain one's liberty, acquire one's liberty, get rid of, get clear of, deliver oneself from, shake off the yoke, slip the collar, break loose, break prison, tear asunder one's bonds, cast off trammels, escape.

Permission

VB permit, give permission, give power, let, allow, admit, suffer, bear with, tolerate, recognize, concede, accord, vouchsafe, favor, humor, gratify, indulge, stretch a point, wink at, connive at, shut one's eyes to, grant, empower, charter, enfranchise, privilege, confer a privilege, license, authorize, warrant, sanction, intrust, give carte blanche, give the reins to, give scope to, leave alone, leave it to one, leave the door open, open the door to, open the flood gates, give a loose to, let off, absolve, release, exonerate, dispense with, ask permission, beg permission, request permission, ask leave, beg leave, request leave.