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charter

[chahr-ter]
noun
  1. a document, issued by a sovereign or state, outlining the conditions under which a corporation, colony, city, or other corporate body is organized, and defining its rights and privileges.
  2. (often initial capital letter) a document defining the formal organization of a corporate body; constitution: the Charter of the United Nations.
  3. authorization from a central or parent organization to establish a new branch, chapter, etc.
  4. a grant by a sovereign power creating a corporation, as the royal charters granted to British colonies in America.
  5. Also called charter party. a contract by which part or all of a ship is leased for a voyage or a stated time.
  6. a tour, vacation, or trip by charter arrangement: The travel agency is offering charters to Europe and the Caribbean.
  7. special privilege or immunity.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to establish by charter: to charter a bank.
  2. to lease or hire for exclusive use: The company will charter six buses for the picnic.
  3. to give special favor or privilege to.
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adjective
  1. of or relating to a method of travel in which the transportation is specially leased or hired for members of a group or association: a charter flight to Europe.
  2. that can be leased or hired for exclusive or private use: a charter boat for deep-sea fishing.
  3. done or held in accordance with a charter: a charter school.
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Origin of charter

1200–50; Middle English chartre < Old French < Latin chartul(a) little paper (by assimilation), equivalent to chart(a) (see charta) + -ula -ule
Related formschar·ter·a·ble, adjectivechar·ter·age, nounchar·ter·er, nounchar·ter·less, adjectivere·char·ter, verb (used with object), nounsub·char·ter, noun, verb
Can be confusedcharted chartered

Synonyms for charter

9. See hire.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for recharter

Historical Examples of recharter

  • They profited by the error of their friends who refused to recharter the first one.

    Thirty Years' View (Vol. II of 2)

    Thomas Hart Benton

  • "I think I'll be able to recharter, Mr. Ricks," he said confidently.

    Cappy Ricks

    Peter B. Kyne

  • It continued its existence until 1811, when the Anti-federalists refused to recharter it.

  • Wise and prudent was the conduct of those who refused to recharter the second Bank of the United States.

  • When the bill to recharter the bank passed Congress, Jackson promptly vetoed the bill.

    Famous American Statesmen

    Sarah Knowles Bolton

British Dictionary definitions for recharter

charter

noun
  1. a formal document from the sovereign or state incorporating a city, bank, college, etc, and specifying its purposes and rights
  2. (sometimes capital) a formal document granting or demanding from the sovereign power of a state certain rights or liberties
  3. a document issued by a society or an organization authorizing the establishment of a local branch or chapter
  4. a special privilege or exemption
  5. (often capital) the fundamental principles of an organization; constitutionthe Charter of the United Nations
    1. the hire or lease of transportation
    2. the agreement or contract regulating this
    3. (as modifier)a charter flight
  7. a law, policy, or decision containing a loophole which allows a specified group to engage more easily in an activity considered undesirablea beggars' charter
  8. maritime law another word for charterparty
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verb (tr)
  1. to lease or hire by charterparty
  2. to hire (a vehicle, etc)
  3. to grant a charter of incorporation or liberties to (a group or person)
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Derived Formscharterer, noun

Word Origin for charter

C13: from Old French chartre, from Latin chartula a little paper, from charta leaf of papyrus; see chart
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for recharter

charter

v.

early 15c., "provide with a charter," from charter (n.). Meaning "to hire" is attested from 1806. Related: Chartered; chartering.

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charter

n.

c.1200, from Old French chartre (12c.) "charter, letter, document, covenant," from Latin chartula, literally "little paper," diminutive of charta, carta "paper, document" (see chart (n.)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper