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permitto

Etymology and origin of the Latin word permitto

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (mittō)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin permitto
English permit

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [pɛrˈmɪt.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [perˈmit.to][1]

Forms

permittō (present infinitive permittere, perfect active permīsī, supine permissum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from per- “through” and mittō “to let go, send”.[2][1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, of letting something travel a distance.[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to let something travel a distance, as missiles, and in Livy equōs permittere to ride at full speed, and to give rein to activities.[2][6][7] In Vitruvius it meant to slacken reins, and in Columella to turn an animal loose.[2] From Plautus it meant to hand over to another, cede, surrender, and in Terence to entrust, and to leave a decision to someone.[2] From Cicero it meant to grant, and to permit, allow.[2] Döderlein explains that permittere grants something out of confidence, while concēdere grants a request.[8]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to permit, suffer, allow, give leave, cede.[9] It survives in French permettre and Spanish permitir, and English permit came in the early 15th century.[1][4]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of letting travel a distance.[2][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of handing over.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of permitting.[2][5]
  • early 15th century – English permit is recorded.[4]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To let travel; to give rein to.[2]
  2. To let go, slacken; to turn loose.[2]
  3. To hand over, surrender; to entrust.[2]
  4. To leave (a decision) to another.[2]
  5. To grant.[2]
  6. To permit, allow.[2]

Word family

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from concēdō, to grant at another's request.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  9. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Permitto.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/permitto. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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