license

A2 Topic:Law & Government

Also spelled licence and licences

US /ˈlaɪ.səns/ See IPA manual

Freq #2180

Meanings

1

noun
An official document that gives you permission to do or own something.

You need a license to drive a car.
2

verb
To give someone official permission to do something.

He is licensed to practise law in this state.
3

noun
The legal terms that allow a person to use a product, especially software.

Read the license carefully before installing the program.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an official document that... permit

2 verb · to give someone official... certifylicence

Word family

Forms licensedlicenseslicensing

Derived forms colicensecrosslicensedelicenselicensablelicense-freelicenseelicenselesslicenselikelicenserlicensorlicensure licentious

Related forms licensure licentious

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

driving license
an official document permitting its holder to drive a motor vehicle

Noun + noun

Simplified etymology

Licence came through Old French from Latin licentia, originally “freedom” or “licentiousness,” which acquired the sense “authority” or “permission” in medieval Latin. Licentia was based on Latin licere, “to be lawful or permitted.”

Etymology

From Middle English licence, licens, lisence, lissens, licance, from Old French licence, from Latin licentia (“license”), from licens, present participle of licere (“to be allowed, be allowable”); compare linquere, Ancient Greek λείπω (leípō, “leave”).

licence Middle English licentia Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Law & Government

External links

# license

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈlaɪ.səns/
**Frequency rank:** 2180

## Meanings
1. An official document that gives you permission to do or own something.
2. To give someone official permission to do something.
3. The legal terms that allow a person to use a product, especially software.

## Examples
- You need a license to drive a car.
- He is licensed to practise law in this state.
- Read the license carefully before installing the program.

## Derived Forms
- colicense
- crosslicense
- delicense
- licensable
- license-free
- licensee
- licenseless
- licenselike
- licenser
- licensor
- licensure
- licentious

## Related Forms
- licensure
- licentious

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: licence
- Root: licentia

## Etymology
From Middle English licence, licens, lisence, lissens, licance, from Old French licence, from Latin licentia (“license”), from licens, present participle of licere (“to be allowed, be allowable”); compare linquere, Ancient Greek λείπω (leípō, “leave”).

## AI Etymology
License comes from Middle English licence, licens, lisence, lissens, licance, from Old French licence, from Latin licentia (“license”), from licens, present participle of licere (“to be allowed, be allowable”); compare linquere, Ancient Greek λείπω (leípō, “leave”).

## Topics
- Law & Government

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