enfranchise
UK[ɪnˈfræn.tʃaɪz]US[ɪnˈfræn.tʃaɪz]
v
to give someone the right to vote in an election
v
to give a person or group a right or privilege, especially the status of a free citizen
Morpheme Breakdown
en
franchise
en
cause to be
franchise
right, privilege
Etymology
the word 'enfranchise' entered english in the late 16th century from anglo-french 'enfranchiss-', the stem of 'enfranchir', meaning 'to set or make free'. this french term is built from 'en-' (a causative prefix) and 'franc' (free). the root 'franc' originates from the medieval latin 'francus', referring to the franks, a germanic people whose status as conquerors in gaul granted them freedom, unlike the subjugated populace. thus, the literal morphemic logic of 'cause to be free' evolved from denoting the granting of legal liberty to the specific modern abstract meanings of granting the right to vote or bestowing civic privileges.
Analysis
Structure: en (cause to be) + franchise (right, privilege)
'en-' is a prefix of French origin, ultimately from Latin 'in-', meaning 'to put into, to cause to be'. 'franchise' is a noun of French origin, from 'franc' meaning 'free', with the suffix '-ise' forming a verb.
Examples
the reform act of 1832 helped enfranchise a larger portion of the male population.
the company's policy is to enfranchise all employees with stock options.
several constitutional amendments were enacted to enfranchise previously disenfranchised groups.