franchisement

English

Etymology

Compare Old French franchissement.

Noun

franchisement (usually uncountable, plural franchisements)

1. Release; deliverance; freedom
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

     On his first quest , the which him forth did call,
     To weet , to worke Irenaes franchisement

   • 1603, Michael Drayton, The Barons' Wars:

     That fate which did thy franchisement inforce, And from the depth of danger set thee free,

2. Right; privilege, especially the right to vote.
   • 1851, Constance Agathat Ogilvy, “The Franchisement of Women”, in Ainsworth's magazine:

     And, as sure as this is black upon a white ground, so sure are we of the franchisement of women.

   • 1898, Official Report of the Proceedings and Debates of the Utah. Constitutional Convention:

     When the barons met King John and demanded franchisement at his hands, was it based upon the plea that they were mentally equal with him?

   • 2015, Dwight C. Grant, Purpose Is Not Enough: Purpose Quantified:

     The idea is that purpose is but a small and minute technology, albeit extremely potent to the franchisement of the unknown. In other words, you use the success of the proven model —namely, the purpose you have come to accept as your call—and then maximize it by branching off into other areas of interest. However, without first understanding your purpose, franchisement is impossible.