Per·mit v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Permitting.]
 1. To consent to; to allow or suffer to be done; to tolerate; to put up with.
    What things God doth neither command nor forbid . . . he permitteth with approbation either to be done or left undone.   --Hooker.
 2. To grant (one) express license or liberty to do an act; to authorize; to give leave; -- followed by an infinitive.
    Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.   --Acts xxvi. 1.
 3. To give over; to resign; to leave; to commit.
 Let us not aggravate our sorrows,
 But to the gods permit the event of things.   --Addison.
 Syn: -- To allow; let; grant; admit; suffer; tolerate; endure; consent to.
 Usage: -- To Allow, Permit, Suffer, Tolerate. To allow is more positive, denoting (at least originally and etymologically) a decided assent, either directly or by implication.  To permit is more negative, and imports only acquiescence or an abstinence from prevention.  The distinction, however, is often disregarded by good writers.  To suffer has a stronger passive or negative sense than to permit, sometimes implying against the will, sometimes mere indifference.  To tolerate is to endure what is contrary to will or desire.  To suffer and to tolerate are sometimes used without discrimination.


 permit
      n 1: a legal document giving official permission to do something
           [syn: license, licence]
      2: the act of giving a formal (usually written) authorization
         [syn: license, permission]
      3: large game fish; found in waters of the West Indies [syn: {Trachinotus
         falcatus]
      v 1: consent to, give permission; "She permitted her son to visit
           her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search
           her basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam"
           [syn: allow, let, countenance] [ant: forbid, forbid]
      2: make it possible through a specific action or lack of action
         for something to happen; "This permits the water to rush
         in"; "This sealed door won't allow the water come into the
         basement"; "This will permit the rain to run off" [syn: let,
          allow] [ant: prevent]
      3: allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without
         opposing or prohibiting; "We don't allow dogs here";
         "Children are not permitted beyond this point"; "We cannot
         tolerate smoking in the hospital" [syn: allow, tolerate]
      [also: permitting, permitted]


 permitting
      See permit