charter

plural charters · alternative obsolete chartre

1. A document issued by some authority, creating a public or private institution, and defining its purposes and privileges.
2. A similar document conferring rights and privileges on a person, corporation etc.
3. A contract for the commercial leasing of a vessel, or space on a vessel.
4. The temporary hiring or leasing of a vehicle.
5. A deed (legal contract).
6. A special privilege, immunity, or exemption.

   My mother, / Who has a charter to extol her blood, / When she does praise me, grieves me.

   c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ix]

7. UKderogatorya provision whose unintended consequence would be to encourage an undesirable activity

   In what Derbyshire police say amounts to a "thieves' charter," three judges ruled that because the car's identity had been changed it was impossible to trace the legal owner and therefore the person found in possession of it was entitled to keep it.

   2001 March 23, Clare Dyer, “Stolen car ruling 'a thieves' charter'”, in The Guardian, London

alternative obsolete chartre

1. not comparableLeased or hired.

present singular third person charters · participle present chartering · participle past chartered · past chartered · alternative obsolete chartre

1. transitiveTo grant or establish a charter.
2. transitiveTo lease or hire something by charter.
3. Canadatransitivelaw(of a peace officer) To inform (an arrestee) of their constitutional rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms upon arrest.

plural Charters

1. A surname.