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.
   
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   The document granting such permission.
   Addison.
   
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   Excess of liberty; freedom abused, or used in contempt of law or decorum; disregard of law or propriety.
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   License they mean when they cry liberty.
   Milton.
   
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   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.
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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