License Definition
līsəns
licensed, licenses, licensing
noun
licenses
Formal permission to do something; esp., authorization by law to do some specified thing.
License to marry, practice medicine, hunt, etc.
Webster's New World
Official or legal permission to engage in a regulated activity.
American Heritage
A document, printed tag, permit, etc. indicating that such permission has been granted.
Webster's New World
A contract allowing someone to use a proprietary product or service.
Has a site license for that software.
American Heritage
Freedom to deviate from strict conduct, rule, or practice, generally permitted by common consent.
Poetic license.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
verb
licensed, licenses, licensing
To give or yield permission to or for.
American Heritage
To give license or a license to or for; permit formally.
Webster's New World
The act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization.
It was decided to license Wikipedia under the GFDL.
Wiktionary
Authorize officially.
I am licensed to practice law in this state.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Origin of License
Middle English licence from Old French from Medieval Latin licentia authorization from Latin freedom from licēns licent- present participle of licēre to be permitted
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Old French licence, from Latin licentia (“license"), from licens, present participle of licere (“to be allowed, be allowable"); compare linquere, Ancient Greek λείπω (leipō, “leave").
From Wiktionary
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