To let do or happen; permit: We allow smoking only in restricted areas.
To permit the presence of: No pets are allowed inside.
To permit to have: allow oneself a little treat.
To make provision for; assign: The schedule allows time for a coffee break.
To plan for in case of need: allow two inches in the fabric for shrinkage.
To grant as a discount or in exchange: allowed me 20 dollars on my old typewriter.
Chiefly Southern & Midland U.S.
To admit; concede: I allowed he was right.
To think; suppose: "We allow he's straight"(American Speech).
To assert; declare: Mother allowed that we'd better come in for dinner.
v.
intr.
To offer a possibility; admit: The poem allows of several interpretations.
To take a possibility into account; make allowance: In calculating profit, retailers must allow for breakage and spoilage.
[Middle English allouen, to approve, permit, from Old French alouer, from Latin allaudāre, to praise (ad-, intensive pref.; see ad- + laudāre, to praise; see laud) and from Medieval Latin allocāre, to assign; see allocate.] al·low'a·ble adj., al·low'a·bly adv.
[uh-lou-uh-buh
l] 