English
Etymology
F. meaning 'white (or blank) paper' - the military term for surrender. The term was previously 'charte blanche'. It is first recorded by Raby in 1707 (reprinted in the Hearne Collection, 1886):<br>
"Who sent Chart Blanch to make a Peace."
Soon after that we have a citation that gives a clearer understanding of the meaning - from
Joseph Addison in The Spectator, 1712:<br>
"I threw her a Charte Blanche, as our News Papers call it, desiring her to write upon it her own Terms."
(copied from http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/86175.html)
Pronunciation
IPA|/k�ɹt�bl�n�/
SAMPA|/kArt"blAnS/
AHD|/kärt-blänsh/
Noun
carte blanche (plural cartes blanches)
- Unrestricted power to act at one's own discretion; unconditional authority
#:They gave the contractor carte blanche to modernize the kitchen.
Synonyms
proxy in blank
Translations
Finnish: avoin valtakirja
Category:English nouns
te:carte blanche
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