Your ShelfYour Projects
Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Denizen

Dĕn'i-zen, n.

noun

(dĕn'ĭ-zn), n. [Also written denisen, denison, Norm. Fr. deinszein, from Lat. donatio, O. Fr. donazon, donaison, donation, because he was made a subject ex donatione regis, by the king's letters patent; but cf. also W. dinesydd, pl. dinasyddion, a citizen, a freeman of a city, from dinas, a city.]

Sense 1. One who is admitted by favor to all or a part of the rights of citizenship, where he did not possess them by birth; an adopted or naturalized citizen.

Sense 2. Hence, a stranger admitted to residence in a foreign country.

Ye gods, Natives, or denizens, of blest abodes. Dryden.

Sense 3. A dweller; an inhabitant. “Denizens of air.” Pope. “Denizens of their own free, independent state.” W. Scott.

Dēn'i-zen, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To make a denizen; to admit to residence, with certain rights and privileges; to enfranchise.

As soon as denizened, they domineer. Dryden.

Sense 2. To provide with denizens; to populate with adopted occupants.

These [islets] were at once denizened by various weeds. J. D. Hooker.