I. ˈdenəzən also -əsən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English deynseen, denysen, from Middle French denzein, from Old French, inner, from denz in, within (from Late Latin deintus within, from within, from Latin de from, away + intus within, from in ) + -ein -an (from Latin -anus ) — more at de- , in
1. : a dweller in a certain place or region : inhabitant , resident
denizens of the village
the denizens of the bayous love a holiday — R.M.Hodesh
2. : one admitted to residence in a foreign country ; especially : an alien admitted by favor to all or a part of the rights of citizenship
3. : one that has been naturalized — used especially of a word, animal, or plant
4.
a. : one that remains in a place temporarily or for a period of time
b. : one that occupies or goes to a place frequently : habitué
denizens of out-of-town theaters
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to make (one) a denizen : admit to residence with certain rights and privileges