n. [ F., fr. franc a Franc. See Frank, a. ] A silver coin of France, and since 1795 the unit of the French monetary system. It has been adopted by Belgium and Swizerland. In 1913 it was equivalent to about nineteen cents American, or ten pence British, and is divided into 100 centimes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. franc, fem. franche, free. See Frank, a. ] 1. Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (LAw) A particular privilege conferred by grant from a sovereign or a government, and vested in individuals; an immunity or exemption from ordinary jurisdiction; a constitutional or statutory right or privilege, esp. the right to vote. [ 1913 Webster ]

Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning franchise of the American people. W. H. Seward. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary. [ 1913 Webster ]

Churches and mobasteries in Spain are franchises for criminals. London Encyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility. “Franchise in woman.” [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Elective franchise, the privilege or right of voting in an election of public officers. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Franchised p. pr. & vb. n. Franchising. ] [ Cf. OF. franchir to free, F., to cross. ] To make free; to enfranchise; to give liberty to. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. franchissement. ] Release; deliverance; freedom. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Frank, a. ] Pertaining to the Franks, or their language; Frankish. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. Francis Bacon. A celebrated English philosopher, jurist, and statesman, son of Sir Nicholas Bacon. Born at York House, London, Jan. 22, 1561: died at Highgate, April 9, 1626, created Baron Verulam July 12, 1618, and Viscount St. Albans Jan. 27, 1621: commonly, but incorrectly, called Lord Bacon. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, April, 1573, to March, 1575, and at Gray's Inn 1575; became attached to the embassy of Sir Amias Paulet in France in 1576; was admitted to the bar in 1582; entered Parliament in 1584; was knighted in 1603; became solicitor-general in 1607, and attorney-general in 1613; was made a privy councilor in 1616, lord keeper in 1617, and lord chancellor in 1618; and was tried in 1621 for bribery, condemned, fined, and removed from office. A notable incident of his career was his connection with the Earl of Essex, which began in July, 1591, remained an intimate friendship until the fall of Essex (1600-01), and ended in Bacon's active efforts to secure the conviction of the earl for treason. (See Essex.) His great fame rests upon his services as a reformer of the methods of scientific investigation; and though his relation to the progress of knowledge has been exaggerated and misunderstood, his reputation as one of the chief founders of modern inductive science is well grounded. His chief works are the "Advancement of Learning," published in English as "The Two Books of Francis Bacon of the Proficience and Advancement of Learning Divine and Human," in 1605; the "Novum organum sive indicia vera de interpretatione naturae," published in Latin, 1620, as a "second part" of the (incomplete) "Instauratio magna"; the "De dignitate et augmentis scientiarum," published in Latin in 1623; "Historia Ventorum" (1622), "Historia Vitae et Mortis" (1623), "Historia Densi et Rari" (posthumously, 1658), "Sylva Sylvarum" (posthumously, 1627), "New Atlantis," "Essays" (1597, 1612, 1625), "De Sapientia Veterum" (1609), "Apothegms New and Old," "History of Henry VII." (1622). Works edited by Ellis, Spedding, and Heath (7 vols. 1857); Life by Spedding (7 vols. 1861, 2 vols. 1878). See Shakspere. Century Dict. 1906. [ PJC ]

n. (R.C.Ch.) 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 Friars Minor; and in England, Gray Friars, because they wear a gray habit. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. Franciscus Francis: cf. F. franciscain. ] (R. C. Ch.) Belonging to the Order of St. Francis of the Franciscans. [ 1913 Webster ]

Franciscan Brothers, pious laymen who devote themselves to useful works, such as manual labor schools, and other educational institutions; -- called also Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis. --
Franciscan Nuns, nuns who follow the rule of St. Francis, esp. those of the Second Order of St. Francis, -- called also Poor Clares or Minoresses. --
Franciscan Tertiaries, the Third Order of St. Francis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F.; cf. It. francolino, Sp. francolin. ] (Zool.) A spurred partidge of the genus Francolinus and allied genera, of Asia and Africa. The common species (F. vulgaris) was formerly common in southern Europe, but is now nearly restricted to Asia. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Min.) A variety of apatite from Wheal Franco in Devonshire. [ 1913 Webster ]