license

li·cense   (lī'səns)    n.   Official or legal permission to do or own a specified thing. See Synonyms at permission. A document, plate, or tag that is issued as proof of official or legal permission: a driver's license. Lack of due restraint; excessive freedom: "When liberty becomes license, dictatorship is near" (Will Durant). Heedlessness for the precepts of proper behavior; licentiousness. Deviation from normal rules, practices, or methods in order to achieve a certain end or effect. Latitude of action, especially in behavior or speech. See Synonyms at freedom. Lack of due restraint; excessive freedom: "When liberty becomes license, dictatorship is near" (Will Durant). Heedlessness for the precepts of proper behavior; licentiousness. tr.v.   li·censed, li·cens·ing, li·cens·es To give or yield permission to or for. To grant a license to or for; authorize. See Synonyms at authorize. [Middle English licence, from Old French, from Medieval Latin licentia, authorization, from Latin, freedom, from licēns, licent-, present participle of licēre, to be permitted.] li'cens·a·ble adj., li'cens·er, li'cen·sor' (-sən-sôr') n.

Main Entry: li·cense
Pronunciation: 'lIs-^&ns
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French, literally, permission, from Old French, from Latin licentia, from licent- licens, present participle of licEre to be permitted, be for sale
1 a : a right or permission granted by a competent authority (as of a government or a business) to engage in some business or occupation, do some act, or engage in some transaction which would be unlawful without such right or permission; also : a document, plate, or tag evidencing a license granted b : revocable authority or permission given solely to one having no possessory rights in a tract of land to do something on that land which would otherwise be unlawful or a trespass —compare EASEMENT, LEASE c : a grant by the holder of a copyright or patent to another of any of the rights embodied in the copyright or patent short of an assignment of all rights
2 : a defense (as to trespass) that one's act was in accordance with a license granted
3 a : freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility b : disregard for standards of personal conduct : LICENTIOUSNESS

Main Entry: li·cense
Variant: or chiefly British li·cence /'lIs-^&n(t)s/
Function: noun
: a permission grantedby competent authority to engage in a business or occupation or in an activity otherwise unlawful license to practice medicine> —license or chiefly British licence transitive verb li·censed or chiefly British li·cenced; li·cens·ing or chiefly British li·cenc·ing

license

in property law, permission to enter or use the property of another. There are three categories of license: bare licenses, contractual licenses, and licenses coupled with an interest. A bare license occurs when a person enters or uses the property of another with the express or implied permission of the owner or under circumstances that would provide a good defense against an action for trespass. For example, a person entering a gas station to ask for directions is a licensee and not a trespasser. Contractual license provides an express or implied permission to enter or use the property in exchange for some consideration. For example, the purchase of a movie ticket allows the ticket holder a license to enter the theatre at a particular time. Licenses that are acquired by contract normally include the right to use property that is protected by patent, copyright, or trademark. A license coupled with an interest arises when a person acquires the right to take possession of property located on someone else's land, as when a lender acquires the right to repossess an automobile that is located on private property after the borrower has defaulted on a loan.

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