entitle

[en-tahyt-l]

See more synonyms for entitle on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), en·ti·tled, en·ti·tling.

to give (a person or thing) a title, right, or claim to something; furnish with grounds for laying claim: His executive position entitled him to certain courtesies rarely accorded others.
to call by a particular title or name: What was the book entitled?
to designate (a person) by an honorary title.

Origin of entitle

1350–1400; Middle English entitlen < Anglo-French entitler, variant of Middle French entituler < Late Latin intitulāre. See en-¹, title

Related formspre·en·ti·tle, verb (used with object), pre·en·ti·tled, pre·en·ti·tling.sub·en·ti·tle, verb (used with object), sub·en·ti·tled, sub·en·ti·tling.un·en·ti·tled, adjectivewell-en·ti·tled, adjective

Synonyms for entitle

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authorize, qualify.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for entitled

designate, authorize, enable, empower, allow, permit, warrant, style, denominate, title, dub, term, characterize, call, baptize, nickname, christen, subtitle, rate, let

Examples from the Web for entitled

Contemporary Examples of entitled

Everyone is entitled to be treated with basic decency and respect.
The GOP’s Hidden Ban on Prison Abortions
Harold Pollack
December 13, 2014
Chris Hughes and Sean Eldridge have always been entitled brats.
The Rise and Fall of Chris Hughes and Sean Eldridge, America’s Worst Gay Power Couple
James Kirchick
December 9, 2014
To celebrate a retrospective box set, entitled Nothing Has Changed, Bowie has released a video for one of two new songs included.
David Bowie Goes Big Band in New Music Video
Alex Chancey, The Daily Beast Video
November 14, 2014
And if anyone's entitled to such sweet dreams, it's Annie Lennox.
Annie Lennox Doesn’t Give a Damn What You Think
Itay Hod
October 21, 2014
Entitled “Please Go Home,” the parody stars Daniel Franzese, best known as the “too gay to function” Damian from Mean Girls.
Anime Hologram Pop Stars, Return of ‘Fresh Prince’ Carlton, and More Viral Videos
Alex Chancey
October 12, 2014

Historical Examples of entitled

The texture of food is entitled to a score of 20 if it is perfect.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 5
Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
And if any one in this world is entitled to success you are.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
It was good of you, kind; but how could I accept a large sum of money like that when I am not entitled to it?
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
The children of the republic are entitled to something better.
The Call of the Twentieth Century
David Starr Jordan
I think I am entitled now to correct this putting of the case.
Samantha Among the Brethren, Part 7.
Josiah Allen's Wife (Marietta Holley)

British Dictionary definitions for entitled

entitle

verb (tr)

to give (a person) the right to do or have something; qualify; allow
to give a name or title to
to confer a title of rank or honour upon

Derived Formsentitlement, noun

Word Origin for entitle

C14: from Old French entituler, from Late Latin intitulāre, from Latin titulus title

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for entitled

entitle

late 14c., "to give a title to a chapter, book, etc.," from Anglo-French entitler, Old French entiteler (Modern French intituler), from Late Latin intitulare, from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + titulus "title" (see title (n.)).

Meaning "to bestow (on a person) a rank or office" is mid-15c. Sense of "to give (someone) 'title' to an estate or property," hence to give that person a claim to possession or privilege, is mid-15c.; this now is used mostly in reference to circumstances and actions. Related: Entitled; entitling.