enfranchise

Etymology

From Old French enfranchir (“to set free, enfranchise”), from en- (“in”) + franchir (“to set free”).

verb

  1. To grant the franchise to an entity, specifically:
    1. To grant the privilege of voting to a person or group of people.
    2. To grant municipal or parliamentary rights to an entity such as a city or constituency.
    3. To grant freedom from slavery, duty or servitude.
  2. (property law, England & Wales, historical) to convert a copyhold estate into a freehold estate

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