GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 4 definitions 

  1.       

    Permit , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Permitting.] [L. permittere, permissum, to let through, to allow, permit; per + mittere to let go, send. See Per-, and Mission.]
    1. To consent to; to allow or suffer to be done; to tolerate; to put up with.
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      What things God doth neither command nor forbid . . . he permitteth with approbation either to be done or left undone.
      Hooker.

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    2. To grant (one) express license or liberty to do an act; to authorize; to give leave; -- followed by an infinitive.
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      Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.
      Acts xxvi. 1.

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    3. To give over; to resign; to leave; to commit.
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      Let us not aggravate our sorrows,
      But to the gods permit the event of things.
      Addison.

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      Syn. -- To allow; let; grant; admit; suffer; tolerate; endure; consent to.  -- To Allow, Permit, Suffer, Tolerate. To allow is more positive, denoting (at least originally and etymologically) a decided assent, either directly or by implication. To permit is more negative, and imports only acquiescence or an abstinence from prevention. The distinction, however, is often disregarded by good writers. To suffer has a stronger passive or negative sense than to permit, sometimes implying against the will, sometimes mere indifference. To tolerate is to endure what is contrary to will or desire. To suffer and to tolerate are sometimes used without discrimination.
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  2.       

    Permit, v. i. To grant permission; to allow.
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  3.       

    Permit , n. Warrant; license; leave; permission; specifically, a written license or permission given to a person or persons having authority; as, a permit to land goods subject to duty.
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  4.       

    Permit , n. [Cf. Sp. palamida a kind of scombroid fish.] (a) A large pompano (Trachinotus goodei) of the West Indies, Florida, etc. It becomes about three feet long. (b) The round pompano. (Trachinotus falcatus). [Local, U. S.]
    Webster 1913 Suppl.