1425-75;late Middle English < Latinpermittere to let go through, give leave, equivalent to per-per- + mittere to let or make (someone) go. See admit, commit, etc.
(transitive) to grant permission to do something: you are permitted to smoke
2.
(transitive) to consent to or tolerate: she will not permit him to come
3.
when intr, often foll by of; when tr, often foll by an infinitive. to allow the possibility (of): the passage permits of two interpretations, his work permits him to relax nowadays
noun (ˈpɜːmɪt)
4.
an official certificate or document granting authorization; licence
5.
permission, esp written permission
Derived Forms
permitter, noun
Word Origin
C15: from Latin permittere, from per- through + mittere to send
late 15c., from Middle French permetre and directly from Latin permittere "let pass, let go, let loose; give up, hand over; let, allow, grant, permit," from per- "through" (see per) + mittere "let go, send" (see mission). Related: Permitted; permitting.
permit
n.
"written statement of permission or license," 1714, from permit (v.).
