1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Permit  \Per*mit"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Permitted};  p.  pr  &  vb 
  n.  {Permitting}.]  [L.  permittere,  permissum  to  let  through 
  to  allow  permit;  per  +  mittere  to  let  go  send  See  {Per-}, 
  and  {Mission}.] 
  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.  --Acis 
  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. 

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