I. ˈchär]d.ər, -ȧ]d.ə, ]tə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English chartre, from Old French, from Latin chartula little paper, diminutive of charta
1. : a written evidence, instrument, or contract executed in due form between man and man : deed , conveyance
2.
a. : an instrument in writing from the sovereign power of a state or country granting or guaranteeing rights, franchises, or privileges
b. : an instrument in writing creating and defining the franchises of a city, university, company, or other public or private corporation
c. : constitution
the Charter of the United Nations
3. : an instrument in writing from the constituted authorities of an order or society creating a lodge, branch, or local unit and defining its powers
4. : a special privilege, immunity, or exemption that is usually publicly conceded or generally understood
a charter to speak freely
5. or charter party : a mercantile lease of a ship : a specific contract by which the owners of a ship let the entire ship or some principal part of it to another person to be used by him in transportation for his own account either under their charge or under his charge
II. transitive verb
( chartered ; chartered ; chartering -d.əriŋ, -tər- also -är.triŋ or -ȧ.tr-\ ; charters )
Etymology: Middle English charteren, from charter, n.
1. : to grant or issue a charter to:
a. : to establish or call into being by charter : acknowledge the existence of by charter
a state university chartered in 1825
b. : to endow with certain rights or functions by charter : assign a given status to by charter : franchise
an organization chartered to undertake the work
c. : to convey by charter
Lyndon was chartered in 1780 to Jonathan Arnold — American Guide Series: Vermont
d. Britain : to certify or authorize (a person) as qualified
a chartered mechanical engineer
2. : to grant special privilege or license to
chartered libertines of imperial Rome
3. : to hire, rent, or lease (as a ship, airplane, or bus) especially for exclusive use
III. noun
: a travel arrangement in which transportation (as a bus or plane) is hired by and for a specific group of people