permission

Forms

permission f (plural permissions)^[1] Anglo-Norman permissiun.^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin permissiō (“surrender, concession, permission”).^[3][4][5] The Latin noun is formed on permissum, the supine of permittō (“to let go, allow”), the source of permettre.^[4][6][5] In rhetoric the Latin word meant a concession.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in the formula par la Dieu permission “by the will of God”, about 1180, a church phrase going back to Saint Augustine.^[5][4][7][6] The TLFi's first record is par la permission de Deu in a deed of 1292.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The modern sense, leave to say or do something, is recorded in 1404, in connection with permettre.^[3][4][5] Like the verb it entered polite formulas such as avec votre permission (1636), and Mme de Sévigné has abuser de la permission (1674).^[3][4] Leave granted to a soldier is recorded in 1836, with the familiar clippings perm and perme (1885).^[4][8] In the French of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar it also means leave of absence from work for a civilian.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 1180 – Par la Dieu permission “by the will of God”.^[5][6]
• 1292 – Par la permission de Deu in a deed.^[3]
• 1404 – Permission to say or do something.^[3][4]
• 1636 – Monet records avec votre permission.^[3]
• 1674 – Mme de Sévigné writes abuser de la permission.^[3]
• 1836 – Leave granted to a soldier.^[4][8]
• 1885 – The clippings perm, perme.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. The act of permitting, or the leave given; permission, authorization: Il a demandé la permission de partir plus tôt.^[8][3][1]
2. Avec votre permission: a polite formula, if you allow it.^[8][3]
3. (familiar) La permission de minuit: leave to stay out until midnight.^[8]
4. (military) Leave granted to a soldier;^[8][1][3] en permission, on leave.^[8][1][3]
5. (law) A permit granted by the authorities, as for parking or use of the public highway.^[8]

Word family

• permissionnaire

Related words

• permettre
• Latin permissiō

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert