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   Li·cense

   /ˈlīsns/

   

   noun

   • 1. a permit from an authority to own or use something, do a particular thing, or carry on a trade (especially in alcoholic beverages): "a gun license"
   • ▪ formal or official permission to do something: "logging is permitted under license from the Forest Service"
   • ▪ a writer's or artist's freedom to deviate from fact or from conventions such as grammar, meter, or perspective, for effect: "artistic license"
   • ▪ freedom to behave as one wishes, especially in a way that results in excessive or unacceptable behavior: "the government was criticized for giving the army too much license"
   • ▪ a reason or excuse to do something wrong or excessive: "you do not have a license to break traffic laws"

   verb

   • 1. grant a license to (someone or something) to permit the use of something or to allow an activity to take place: "brokers must be licensed to sell health-related insurance"
   • ▪ authorize the use, performance, or release of (something): "the drug is already licensed for human use"
   • ▪ give permission to (someone) to do something: "he was licensed to do no more than send a message"

   Word Origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin licentia ‘freedom, licentiousness’ (in medieval Latin ‘authority, permission’), from licere ‘be lawful or permitted’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. licensable adjective
   • 2. licenser noun
   • 3. licensor noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • L

     1

   • I

     1

   • C

     3

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

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