License \Li"cense\ (l[imac]"sens), n. [Written also licence.]
[F. licence, L. licentia, fr. licere to be permitted, prob.
orig., to be left free to one; akin to linquere to leave. See
Loan, and cf. Illicit, Leisure.]
1. Authority or liberty given to do or forbear any act;
especially, a formal permission from the proper
authorities to perform certain acts or to carry on a
certain business, which without such permission would be
illegal; a grant of permission; as, a license to preach,
to practice medicine, to sell gunpowder or intoxicating
liquors.
To have a license and a leave at London to dwell.
--P. Plowman.
2. The document granting such permission. --Addison.
3. Excess of liberty; freedom abused, or used in contempt of
law or decorum; disregard of law or propriety.
License they mean when they cry liberty. --Milton.
4. That deviation from strict fact, form, or rule, in which
an artist or writer indulges, assuming that it will be
permitted for the sake of the advantage or effect gained;
as, poetic license; grammatical license, etc.
Syn: Leave; liberty; permission.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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