GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   License , n. [Written also licence.] [F. licence, L. licentia, fr. licere to be permitted, prob. orig., to be left free to one; akin to linquere to leave. See Loan, and cf. Illicit, Leisure.]
   Authority or liberty given to do or forbear any act; especially, a formal permission from the proper authorities to perform certain acts or to carry on a certain business, which without such permission would be illegal; a grant of permission; as, a license to preach, to practice medicine, to sell gunpowder or intoxicating liquors.
   1913 Webster
   To have a license and a leave at London to dwell.
   P. Plowman.
   
   1913 Webster
   The document granting such permission.
   Addison.
   
   1913 Webster
   Excess of liberty; freedom abused, or used in contempt of law or decorum; disregard of law or propriety.
   1913 Webster
   License they mean when they cry liberty.
   Milton.
   
   1913 Webster
   That deviation from strict fact, form, or rule, in which an artist or writer indulges, assuming that it will be permitted for the sake of the advantage or effect gained; as, poetic license; grammatical license, etc.
   1913 Webster
   Syn. -- Leave; liberty; permission.
   1913 Webster
   
         
       

2.       
   License , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Licensed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Licensing.] To permit or authorize by license; to give license to; as, to license a man to preach.
   Milton.  Shak.
   
   Syn. -- licence, certify. 
   1913 Webster