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license

/ˈlaɪ.səns/ noun

In Latin: licentia Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about license at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A legal document giving official permission to do something.
  2. Freedom to deviate deliberately from normally applicable rules or practices (especially in behavior or speech).
  3. Excessive freedom; lack of due restraint.
    when liberty becomes license dictatorship is near

verb

  1. Authorize officially.
    I am licensed to practice law in this state

Origin

From Middle English licence, licens, lisence, lissens, licance, from Old French licence, from Latin licentia (“license”), from licens, present participle of licere (“to be allowed, be allowable”); compare linquere, Ancient Greek λείπω (leípō, “leave”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)