Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
License
Li′cense
(lī′sens)
, Noun.
[Written also
licence
.] 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 liquorsTo 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.
Li′cense
(lī′sens)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Licensed
(lī′senst)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Licensing
.] To permit or authorize by license; to give license to;
as, to
. license
a man to preachMilton.
Shak.
Syn. – licence, certify.
Webster 1828 Edition
License
LI'CENSE
,Noun.
1.
Leave; permission; authority or liberty given to do or forbear any act. A license may be verbal or written; when written, the paper containing the authority is called a license. A man is not permitted to retail spirituous liquors till he has obtained a license.2.
Excess of liberty; exorbitant freedom; freedom abused, or used in contempt of law or decorum.License they mean, when they cry liberty.
LI'CENSE
, v.t.1.
To permit by grant of authority; to remove legal restraint by a grant of permission; as, to license a man to keep an inn.2.
To authorize to act in a particular character; as, to license a physician or a lawyer.3.
To dismiss. [Not in use.]