affrancare

to free, to stamp (a letter)

verb ahf-frahn-KAH-reh Rare

Also means

to emancipate

Usage Note

Affrancare has two registers: in everyday usage it means to put a stamp on a letter (affrancare una lettera), but in formal or historical contexts it means to liberate or emancipate someone from servitude. It takes avere as its auxiliary. Do not confuse with liberare, which is more general.

Examples

"Devo affrancare questa busta prima di spedirla."

Natural Translation

I need to stamp this envelope before sending it.

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