license English · revision 4691

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1362|origins=la licentia}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlaɪ.səns/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|licence]], [[bor|fro|licence|t=freedom, liberty, permission]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|licentia|t=freedom, liberty; licentiousness]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from licēns, licentis, the present participle of licēre “to be allowed, be lawful”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart traces licēre to [[ine-pro|*leyk-|alt=*leik-]], also seen in Oscan likitud “let it be allowed” and Latvian līkt “to come to terms”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The spelling with -se arose by analogy with pairs such as practice and practise.^(NODE 1998) It is related to [[licit]], [[illicit]] and [[licentious]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Liberty or permission to do something: 1362 in the OED;^(OED 1989) before 1376 in Barnhart, in Piers Plowman, as permission given by law.^(Barnhart 1988) Middle English also spelled it licens, lisence and lissens.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Formal, usually written, permission from an authority, to marry, hunt and later drive, is from the early 15th century (1433 in the OED),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the document itself from 1598.^(OED 1989) Excessive liberty or disregard of rules is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) hence ''licentious''.^(Etymonline) Deviation from rules by a writer or artist for effect is from 1530, as lycence poetycall,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''poetic licence'' is from 1733.^(Etymonline) The verb, to give formal permission, is from about 1400.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The ''license plate'' is from 1870, first for dogs and wagons,^(Etymonline) and ''licensee'' from 1868.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1362 – permission.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – verb, to authorize.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1433 – formal written permission.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – excessive liberty.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530 – licence in art or writing.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1598 – the document.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1868 – ''licensee''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1870 – ''license plate''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An official document giving permission to do, use or own something: ''a driver's license''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Formal [[permission]] from an authority.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Freedom to act as one wishes, sometimes too much freedom.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Departure from the usual rules in art or writing for effect: ''[[poetic licence|alt=poetic license]]''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give official permission to or for something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[licensable]]

+ * [[licensed]]

+ * [[licenseless]]

+ * [[licensee]]

+ * [[licensure]]

+ * [[licentious]]

+ * [[sublicense]]

+ * [[off-license]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[licence]]

+ * [[licit]]

+ * [[illicit]]

+ * [[leisure]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ There have been attempts to keep license for the verb and licence for the noun, as with advise and advice.^(Etymonline) British English mostly does this, while in American English license serves as both.^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}