Part 4558

<blockquote>Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning <b>franchise</b> of the American people. <i>W. H. Seward.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary.</def>

<blockquote>Churches and mobasteries in Spain are <b>franchises</b> for criminals. <i>London Encyc.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility.</def> "<i>Franchise</i> in woman." <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<cs><col>Elective franchise</col>, <cd>the privilege or right of voting in an election of public officers.</cd></cs>

<h1>Franchise</h1> <Xpage=592>

<hw>Fran"chise</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Franchised</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Franchising</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[Cf. OF. <ets>franchir</ets> to free, F., to cross.]</ety> <def>To make free; to enfranchise; to give liberty to.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>Franchisement</h1> <Xpage=592>

<hw>Fran"chise*ment</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. OF. <ets>franchissement</ets>.]</ety> <def>Release; deliverance; freedom.</def>

<i>Spenser.</i>

<h1>Francic</h1> <Xpage=592>

<hw>Fran"cic</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Frank</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <def>Pertaining to the Franks, or their language; Frankish.</def>

<h1>Franciscan</h1> <Xpage=592>

<hw>Fran*cis"can</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>Franciscus</ets> Francis: cf. F. <ets>franciscain</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(R. C. Ch.)</fld> <def>Belonging to the Order of St. Francis of the Franciscans.</def>

<cs><col>Franciscan Brothers</col>, <cd>pious laymen who devote themselves to useful works, such as manual labor schools, and other educational institutions; -- called also <altname>Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis</altname>.</cd> -- <col>Franciscan Nuns</col>, <cd>nuns who follow the rule of t. Francis, esp. those of the Second Order of St. Francis, -- called also <altname>Poor Clares</altname> or <altname>Minoresses</altname>.</cd> -- <col>Franciscan Tertiaries</col>, <cd>the Third Order of St. Francis.</cd></cs>

<h1>Franciscan</h1> <Xpage=592>

<hw>Fran*cis"can</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(R.C.Ch.)</fld> <def>A monk or friar of the Order of St. Francis, a large and zealous order of mendicant monks founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi. They are called also <altname>Friars Minor</altname>; and in England, <altname>Gray Friars</altname>, because they wear a gray habit.</def>

<h1>Francolin</h1> <Xpage=592>

<hw>Fran"co*lin</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F.; cf. It. <ets>francolino</ets>, Sp. <ets>francolin</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A spurred partidge of the genus <spn>Francolinus</spn> and allied genera, of Asia and Africa. The common species (<spn>F. vulgaris</spn>) was formerly common in southern Europe, but is now nearly restricted to Asia.</def>

<h1>Francolite</h1> <Xpage=592>

<hw>Fran"co*lite</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Min.)</fld> <def>A variety of apatite from Wheal <ets>Franco</ets> in Devonshire.</def>

<h1>Frangent</h1> <Xpage=592>

<hw>Fran"gent</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>frangens</ets>, p.pr. of <ets>frangere</ets>. See <er>Fraction</er>.]</ety> <def>Causing fracture; breaking.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>H. Walpole.</i>

<h1>Frangibility</h1> <Xpage=592>

<hw>Fran`gi*bil"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>frangibilit\'82</ets>.]</ety> <def>The state or quality of being frangible.</def>