*franchis*

n. [ Cf. F. affranchissement. ] The act of making free; enfranchisement. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ . See Disfranchise, Disfranchisement. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To disfranchise; to deprive of the rights of a citizen. -- Dis`en*fran"chise*ment n. [1913 Webster]

adj. deprived of the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote. Opposite of enfranchised.
Syn. -- disfranchised, voteless. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Disfranchised p. pr. & vb. n. Disfranchising. ] [ Cf. Diffranchise. ] To deprive of a franchise or chartered right; to dispossess of the rights of a citizen, or of a particular privilege, as of voting, holding office, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sir William Fitzwilliam was disfranchised. Fabyan (1509). [ 1913 Webster ]

He was partially disfranchised so as to be made incapable of taking part in public affairs. Thirlwall. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. deprived of the rights of citizenship especially the right to vote. Opposite of enfranchised.
Syn. -- disenfranchised, voteless. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The act of disfranchising, or the state of being disfranchised; deprivation of privileges of citizenship or of chartered immunities. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sentenced first to dismission from the court, and then to disfranchisement and expulsion from the colony. Palfrey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. ex- + franchise: cf. OF. esfranchir. ] To enfranchise. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To receive as denizens; to naturalize; as, to enfranchise foreign words. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. endowed with the rights of citizenship especially the right to vote. disenfranchised [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. Releasing from slavery or custody. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Admission to the freedom of a corporation or body politic; investiture with the privileges of free citizens. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enfranchisement of copyhold (Eng. Law), the conversion of a copyhold estate into a freehold. Mozley & W. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who enfranchises. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. franc, fem. franche, free. See Frank, a. ] 1. Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (LAw) A particular privilege conferred by grant from a sovereign or a government, and vested in individuals; an immunity or exemption from ordinary jurisdiction; a constitutional or statutory right or privilege, esp. the right to vote. [ 1913 Webster ]

Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning franchise of the American people. W. H. Seward. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary. [ 1913 Webster ]

Churches and mobasteries in Spain are franchises for criminals. London Encyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility. “Franchise in woman.” [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Elective franchise, the privilege or right of voting in an election of public officers. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Franchised p. pr. & vb. n. Franchising. ] [ Cf. OF. franchir to free, F., to cross. ] To make free; to enfranchise; to give liberty to. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. franchissement. ] Release; deliverance; freedom. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]