— enfranchisement /en fran"chuyz meuhnt, -chiz-/ , n. — enfranchiser , n.
/en fran"chuyz/ , v.t., enfranchised, enfranchising .
1. to grant a franchise to; admit to citizenship, esp. to the right of voting.
2. to endow (a city, constituency, etc.) with municipal or parliamentary rights.
3. to set free; liberate, as from slavery.
Also, franchise .
[ 1505-15; enfranchiss- (long s. of enfranchir to free), equiv. to en- EN- 1 + franch- free (see FRANK 1 ) + iss- -ISH 2 ]