permit
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /pɚˈmɪt/
ipa: /pəˈmɪt/
rhymes: -ɪt
ipa: /ˈpɝmɪt/
ipa: /ˈpɜːmɪt/
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)mɪt
Forms: form: permits
form: permitting
form: permitted
form: permitted
Etymology: From Middle English permitten, borrowed from Middle French permettre, from Latin permittō (“give up, allow”), from per (“through”) + mittō (“send”).
Senses: examples: text: Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.
ref: 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 48:
text: Last week the decision on two points was conclusive: the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. will not permit ordination of women as ministers, but will permit their election as ruling elders, permission which makes possible a woman as moderator.
ref: 1930 December 19, “Presbytarians”, in Time:
glosses: To allow (something) to happen, to give permission for.
examples: text: He was ultimately cleared, but during that period, Mr. Ackman said, his lawyers would not permit him to defend himself publicly.
ref: 2009, Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 17 Jan 09, p. 1:
glosses: To allow (someone) to do something; to give permission to.
examples: text: What was left to say? Quite a lot, if only parliamentary time permitted.
ref: 2006 December 3, Mary Riddell, “Trident is a Weapon of Mass Destruction”, in The Observer:
text: For snackage there's a 1950s-themed diner plus a barbie on the terrace, weather permitting.
ref: 2009 July 25, John Mitchell, “Clubs Preview”, in The Guardian:
glosses: To allow for, to make something possible.
examples: text: "You English are always so frivolous," said the Princess. "In Russia we have too many troubles to permit of our being light-hearted."
ref: 1910, Saki [pseudonym; Hector Hugh Munro], “Reginald in Russia”, in Reginald in Russia and Other Sketches, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC, page 4:
text: "As an instrument of economic policy, incantation does not permit of minor doubts or scruples."
ref: 2007, Ian Jack, The Guardian, 22 Sep 07:
glosses: To allow, to admit (of).
examples: text: The Building Department permitted that project last week.
text: […] they have not expanded so far federal permitting authority to site and permit transmission lines that are important for interstate commerce.
ref: 2022 September 20, Ezra Klein, quoting Jesse Jenkins, “Transcript: Ezra Klein Interviews Jesse Jenkins”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
qualifier: pronounced like noun
glosses: To grant formal authorization for (something).
examples: text: We've been busy permitting the State Street development.
qualifier: pronounced like noun
glosses: To attempt to obtain or succeed in obtaining formal authorization for (something).
examples: text: Let us not aggravate our sorrows, / But to the gods permit the event of things.
ref: 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 6:
glosses: To hand over, resign (something to someone).
Derived terms: permitable
permit nature to take her course
permittable
permittance
permitter
repermit