affranchise

A1F4F4R1A1N1C3H4I1S1E1
/əˈfɹænˌt͡ʃaɪz/

verb

To free from obligation, servitude or service.

“Eventually, the intention was that they should affranchise all the slaves.”

Similar
enfranchise
OriginMiddle English affranchysen ← Old French afranchiss- →
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Meanings

verbaffranchise (third-person singular simple present affranchises, present participle affranchising, simple past and past participle affranchised)

present singular third person affranchises · participle present affranchising · participle past affranchised · past affranchised · alternative nonstandard affranchize

  1. transitiveTo free from obligation, servitude or service.

    Eventually, the intention was that they should affranchise all the slaves.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbgrant freedom to; as from slavery or servitude

Similar
enfranchise
Broader
liberateset free
Also see
enfranchise

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Old Frenchafranchiss-
  2. Middle Englishaffranchysen
  3. Englishaffranchise

From late Middle English affranchysen, from Old French afranchiss-, long stem of afranchir (modern French affranchir), from a- + franchir (“to free”). By surface analysis, af- + franchise.

More words from Middle English, Old French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

affranchise. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/affranchise

MLA

“affranchise.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/affranchise. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “affranchise,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/affranchise.

Source: affranchise on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.