enfranchise, v.
(ɛnˈfrɑːntʃɪz, -ˈfræn-, -tʃaɪz)
Forms: 6 enfraunches(e, -ize, 7 -ise, enfranchiz, 6– enfranchize; also 6–7 infranchese, -ise, infraunchise.
[ad. OF. enfranchiss-, lengthened stem of enfranchir, f. en (see en- prefix1) + franc free: see frank a. Cf. affranchise.
By Johnson regarded as f. en-1 + franchise, a view of the derivation which has influenced the later use. The pronunciation of enfranchise, affranchise, has from 18th c. followed the same course as that of franchise: Buchanan (1766), an orthoepist of no great authority, has (-tʃaɪz) in all three words: Perry (1793) has (-tʃiːz); Sheridan, Walker (1790) and the majority of later orthoepists, have (-tʃɪz), but (-tʃaɪz) reappears in Knowles (1835) and in Ogilvie (1850), and is given as an alternative in many recent Dicts.]
I. To admit to personal freedom.
1. To admit to freedom, set free (a slave or serf).
| 1531 Elyot Gov. ii. vii. (1883) II. 77 Thou in a priuate jugement were ouercommen of a poore man but late infraunchised. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. I. 123/1 He did not onelie baptise them, but also infranchised them of all bodilie seruitude and bondage. 1636 G. Sandys Paraph. Div. Poems 1 Sam. ii. 1, Those who served, infranchised. 1776 Adam Smith W.N. I. iii. ii. 393 A villain enfranchised..could cultivate it only by means of what the landlord advanced to him. 1876 Ouida Moths (1880) III. 119 The Tsar has not enfranchised me. |
| fig. 1548 Gest Pr. Masse 127 He is both blessed and enfranchised from al travayl. 1695 Tryon Dreams & Vis. iii. 37 [The] beginning of each Christians Regeneration..whereby he Infrancheses himself from the world. a 1754 W. Hamilton Youngest Grace (R.), Psyche, infranchis'd from all mortal pain. 1888 British Weekly 24 Aug. 273/1 The soul..should become mellow and enfranchised. |
† b. To set free from political subjection. Obs.
| c 1600 Norden Spec. Brit., Cornw. (1728) 7 Vntill the Britons enfraunchized themselves by a generall reuolte. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. i. i. 23 Take in that Kingdome, and Infranchise that. 1648 Milton Observ. Art. Peace (1851) 556 To be infranchiz'd with full liberty equall to thir Conquerours. |
2. To release from confinement; chiefly transf. or fig. (Freq. in Shakes.)
| 1568 Grafton Chron. 93 If you finally refuse to deliuer him, I thinke verily the counsayle will enfraunches hym. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. iv. ii. 125 From that wombe where you imprisoned were He is infranchised and come to light. 1598 [see enfranchised.] 1626 T. H. tr. Caussin's Holy Crt. 160 Break your fetters, enfranchiz your selfe. 1878 S. Cox Salv. Mundi ix. (ed. 3) 201 Liberate and enfranchise that which is good. |
† b. humorously. To get (a thing) free.
| 1682 D'Urfey Butler's Ghost 16 This..Fierce Blade from peaceful sheath he lugs; For, putting chape betwixt his Feet, He, with much ease, Enfranchis'd it. |
3. To release from obligatory payments, legal liabilities, etc. to enfranchise a copyhold or leasehold estate: to convert it into freehold.
| 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits xiii. (1596) 220 His house shalbe enfranchised in Israel from all maner tribute. 1818 Cruise Digest III. 107 The lord of a manor enfranchised a copyhold..and then disputed the right of common with the copyholder he had enfranchised. |
II. To admit to municipal or political privileges.
† 4. To make ‘free’ of a municipality or corporation. Const. into. Also fig. Obs.
| 1514 Act 5 Hen. VIII, c. 6 The crafte and misterye of Surgeons enfraunchesid in the Citie of London. 1602 W. Fulbecke Pandects 56 If they were enfraunchised of a hundred cities. a 1628 F. Greville Sidney (1652) 53 This was the first prize which did enfranchise this Master Spirit into the mysteries and affairs of State. a 1655 Vines Lord's Supp. (1677) 170 He..must submit to the laws and rules of that Corporation he is free of, whether to be enfranchized or disfranchized. |
5. To make (a city or town) ‘free’ by charter; to invest (it) with municipal rights. Now chiefly, to invest with the right of being represented in parliament.
| 1564 Haward Eutropius vi. 53 When he cam into Siria he enfraunchised Seleucia. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. i. iv. §2 Verolam-cestre was at this time enfranchised with many Immunities. 1844 Ld. Brougham Brit. Const. xiv. (1862) 212 She added no less than sixty-two burgh members, chiefly by enfranchising petty burghs. |
6. To admit to membership in a body politic or state; to admit to political privileges; † to naturalize (an alien). Now chiefly, to admit to the electoral ‘franchise’ or right of voting for members of parliament.
| 1683 Brit. Spec. 196 He hath by his Prerogative Power to enfranchise an Alien. 1711 Strype Parker an. 1595 (R.), He [Dr. Baro] being an alien, ought to have carried himself quietly and peaceably in a country where he was so humanely harboured and infranchised. 1839 Thirlwall Greece II. 74 He is said to have enfranchised not only aliens..but slaves. 1884 Times (weekly ed.) 26 Sept. 2/1 We want..to enfranchise those great masses of the people. |
b. fig. To naturalize (foreign words; rarely, foreign plants). ? Obs.
| 1601 Holland Pliny I. 359 Cherry-trees, Peach-trees,..are held for aliens in Italy. Howbeit, some of them now are infranchised and taken for free denizens among vs. 1668 Wilkins Real Char. i. ii. §2. 8 By enfranchising strange forein words. a 1748 Watts (J.), These words have been enfranchised amongst us. |