[Origin: 1425–75; late ME < L permittere to let go through, give leave, equiv. to per-per-+ mittere to let or make (someone) go. See admit, commit, etc.]
To allow the doing of (something); consent to: permit the sale of alcoholic beverages.
To grant consent or leave to (someone); authorize: permitted him to explain.
To afford opportunity or possibility for: weather that permits sailing.
v.
intr.
To afford opportunity; allow: if circumstances permit.
n.
(pûr'mĭt, pər-mĭt')
Permission, especially in written form.
A document or certificate giving permission to do something; a license or warrant: a building permit.
[Middle English permitten, from Latin permittere : per-, through; see per- + mittere, to let go.]
per'mit·tee' (pûr'mĭ-tē') n., per·mit'ter n.
Usage Note: In the sense "to allow for, be consistent with," permit is often followed by the preposition of:The wording of the note permits of several interpretations. But of should not be used when the meaning of permit is "to give permission": The law permits (not permits of ) camping on the beach.
1489, from M.Fr. permetre, from L. permittere "give up, allow, allow to pass through," from per- "through" + mittere "let go, send." The noun is first recorded 1714.
a legal document giving official permission to do something [syn: license]
2.
the act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization [syn: license]
3.
large game fish; found in waters of the West Indies
verb
1.
consent to, give permission; "She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search her basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam" [ant: disallow]
2.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen; "This permits the water to rush in"; "This sealed door won't allow the water come into the basement"; "This will permit the rain to run off" [syn: let] [ant: keep]
3.
allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting; "We don't allow dogs here"; "Children are not permitted beyond this point"; "We cannot tolerate smoking in the hospital" [syn: allow]
Main Entry: per·mit Pronunciation: 'p&r-"mit, p&r-'mit Function: noun : a written warrant or license granted by one having authority <a
building permit>
Al*low"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Allowing.] [OE. alouen, OF. alouer, aloer, aluer, F. allouer, fr. LL. allocare to admit as proved, to place, use; confused with OF. aloer, fr. L. allaudare to extol; ad + laudare to praise. See Local, and cf. Allocate, Laud.]1. To praise; to approve of; hence, to sanction. [Obs. or Archaic] Ye allow the deeds of your fathers. --Luke xi. 48. We commend his pains, condemn his pride, allow his life, approve his learning. --Fuller. 2. To like; to be suited or pleased with. [Obs.] How allow you the model of these clothes? --Massinger. 3. To sanction; to invest; to intrust. [Obs.] Thou shalt be . . . allowed with absolute power. --Shak. 4. To grant, give, admit, accord, afford, or yield; to let one have; as, to allow a servant his liberty; to allow a free passage; to allow one day for rest. He was allowed about three hundred pounds a year. --Macaulay. 5. To own or acknowledge; to accept as true; to concede; to accede to an opinion; as, to allow a right; to allow a claim; to allow the truth of a proposition. I allow, with Mrs. Grundy and most moralists, that Miss Newcome's conduct . . . was highly reprehensible. --Thackeray. 6. To grant (something) as a deduction or an addition; esp. to abate or deduct; as, to allow a sum for leakage. 7. To grant license to; to permit; to consent to; as, to allow a son to be absent. Syn: To allot; assign; bestow; concede; admit; permit; suffer; tolerate. See Permit.
Per*mit"\, n. [Cf. Sp. palamida a kind of scombroid fish.] (a) A large pompano (Trachinotus goodei) of the West Indies, Florida, etc. It becomes about three feet long. (b) The round pompano. (T. falcatus). [Local, U. S.]
Per*mis"sion\, n. [L. permissio: cf. F. permission. See Permit.] The act of permitting or allowing; formal consent; authorization; leave; license or liberty granted. High permission of all-ruling Heaven. --Milton. You have given me your permission for this address. --Dryden. Syn: Leave; liberty; license. Usage: Leave, Permission. Leave implies that the recipient may decide whether to use the license granted or not. Permission is the absence on the part of another of anything preventive, and in general, at least by implication, signifies approval.
Per*mit"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Permitting.] [L. permittere, permissum, to let through, to allow, permit; per + mittere to let go, send. See Per-, and Mission.]1. To consent to; to allow or suffer to be done; to tolerate; to put up with. What things God doth neither command nor forbid . . . he permitteth with approbation either to be done or left undone. --Hooker. 2. To grant (one) express license or liberty to do an act; to authorize; to give leave; -- followed by an infinitive. Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. --Acis xxvi. 1. 3. To give over; to resign; to leave; to commit. Let us not aggravate our sorrows, But to the gods permit the event of things. --Addison. Syn: To allow; let; grant; admit; suffer; tolerate; endure; consent to. Usage: To Allow, Permit, Suffer, Tolerate. To allow is more positive, denoting (at least originally and etymologically) a decided assent, either directly or by implication. To permit is more negative, and imports only acquiescence or an abstinence from prevention. The distinction, however, is often disregarded by good writers. To suffer has a stronger passive or negative sense than to permit, sometimes implying against the will, sometimes mere indifference. To tolerate is to endure what is contrary to will or desire. To suffer and to tolerate are sometimes used without discrimination.
Per*mit"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Permitting.] [L. permittere, permissum, to let through, to allow, permit; per + mittere to let go, send. See Per-, and Mission.]1. To consent to; to allow or suffer to be done; to tolerate; to put up with. What things God doth neither command nor forbid . . . he permitteth with approbation either to be done or left undone. --Hooker. 2. To grant (one) express license or liberty to do an act; to authorize; to give leave; -- followed by an infinitive. Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. --Acis xxvi. 1. 3. To give over; to resign; to leave; to commit. Let us not aggravate our sorrows, But to the gods permit the event of things. --Addison. Syn: To allow; let; grant; admit; suffer; tolerate; endure; consent to. Usage: To Allow, Permit, Suffer, Tolerate. To allow is more positive, denoting (at least originally and etymologically) a decided assent, either directly or by implication. To permit is more negative, and imports only acquiescence or an abstinence from prevention. The distinction, however, is often disregarded by good writers. To suffer has a stronger passive or negative sense than to permit, sometimes implying against the will, sometimes mere indifference. To tolerate is to endure what is contrary to will or desire. To suffer and to tolerate are sometimes used without discrimination.
Per"mit\, n. Warrant; license; leave; permission; specifically, a written license or permission given to a person or persons having authority; as, a permit to land goods subject to duty.
Suf"fer\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Suffered; p. pr. & vb. n. Suffering.] [OE. suffren, soffren, OF. sufrir, sofrir, F. souffrir, (assumed) LL. sofferire, for L. sufferre; sub under + ferre to bear, akin to E. bear. See Bear to support.]1. To feel, or endure, with pain, annoyance, etc.; to submit to with distress or grief; to undergo; as, to suffer pain of body, or grief of mind. 2. To endure or undergo without sinking; to support; to sustain; to bear up under. Our spirit and strength entire, Strongly to suffer and support our pains. --Milton. 3. To undergo; to be affected by; to sustain; to experience; as, most substances suffer a change when long exposed to air and moisture; to suffer loss or damage. If your more ponderous and settled project May suffer alteration. --Shak. 4. To allow; to permit; not to forbid or hinder; to tolerate. Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. --Lev. xix. 17. I suffer them to enter and possess. --Milton. Syn: To permit; bear; endure; support; sustain; allow; admit; tolerate. See Permit.