v. 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- pref.1) + 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.]
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, 10, Poems (1760), 218 (R.). Pscyche, 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 themselues by a generall reuolte.
1606. Shaks., 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 Shaks.)
1568. Grafton, Chron., 93. If you finally refuse to deliuer him, I thinke verily the counsayle will enfraunches hym.
1588. Shaks., 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[awkins], trans. 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. Fulbecke, Pandects, 56. If they were enfraunchised of a hundred cities.
a. 1628. F. Greville, Sidney (1652), 53. This (I say) was the first prize which did enfranchise this Master Spirit into the mysteries, and affairs of State.
a. 1656. Vines, Lord’s Supp. (1677), 170. He that will be of our Body, must submit to the Laws and Rules of that Corporation he is free of, whether to be enfranchized or dis-franchized.
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.
1718. Strype, Whitgift, an. 1595, 465 (R.). He [Dr. Baro] being an Alien, ans so ought to have carried himself quietly and peaceably in a Country where he was so humanely harboured, and infranchized.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, II. 74. He is said to have enfranchised not only aliens … but slaves.
1884. Times, 24 Sept., 6/2. 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. There have been more then ordinary Changes introduced in our Language:… partly by enfranchising strange forein words.
1724. Watts, Logic, I. vi. § 3 (1729), 99 (J.). These Words have been as it were enfranchised amongst us.
