different between permit vs deign

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English permitten, borrowed from Middle French permettre, from Latin permitt? (“give up, allow”), from per (“through”) + mitt? (“send”).

Pronunciation

• (most verb senses):

  (General American) IPA^(key): /p??m?t/

  (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p??m?t/

  Rhymes: -?t

• (noun, denominal verb senses):

  (General American) IPA^(key): /?p?m?t/

  (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??m?t/

  Rhymes: -??(?)m?t

Verb

permit (third-person singular simple present permits, present participle permitting, simple past and past participle permitted)

1. (transitive) To allow (something) to happen, to give permission for. [from 15th c.]
   • 1930, "Presbytarians", Time, 19 Dec 1930:

     Last week the decision on two points was conclusive: the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. will not permit ordination of women as ministers, but will permit their election as ruling elders, permission which makes possible a woman as moderator.

2. (transitive) To allow (someone) to do something; to give permission to. [from 15th c.]
   • 2009, Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 17 Jan 09, p. 1:

     He was ultimately cleared, but during that period, Mr. Ackman said, his lawyers would not permit him to defend himself publicly.

3. (intransitive) To allow for, to make something possible. [from 16th c.]
   • 2006, Mary Riddell, "Trident is a Weapon of Mass Destruction", The Observer, 3 Dec 06:

     What was left to say? Quite a lot, if only parliamentary time permitted.

   • 2009, John Mitchell, "Clubs Preview", The Guardian, 25 Jul 09:

     For snackage there's a 1950s-themed diner plus a barbie on the terrace, weather permitting.

4. (intransitive) To allow, to admit (of). [from 18th c.]
   • per
   • 2007, Ian Jack, The Guardian, 22 Sep 07:

     "As an instrument of economic policy, incantation does not permit of minor doubts or scruples."

5. (transitive, pronounced like noun) To grant formal authorization for (something).

6. (transitive, pronounced like noun) To attempt to obtain or succeed in obtaining formal authorization for (something).

7. (now archaic, rare) To hand over, resign (something to someone). [from 15th c.]

   • Let us not aggravate our sorrows, / But to the gods permit the event of things.

Usage notes

• This is a catenative verb that in the active form takes the gerund (-ing), but in passive takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs

Translations

Noun

permit (plural permits)

1. An artifact or document rendering something allowed or legal. [from 17th c.]

   A construction permit can be obtained from the town offices.

   Go over to the park office and get a permit for the #3 shelter.

   1. A learner's permit.
2. (obsolete) Formal permission. [16th-19th c.]

Translations

Related terms

• permission
• mission

Etymology 2

An irregular borrowing from Spanish palometa, probably from a Doric variant of Ancient Greek ??????? (p?lamús, “young tuna”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p?m?t/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??m?t/
• Rhymes: -??(?)m?t

Noun

permit (plural permit)

1. A pompano of the species Trachinotus falcatus.

See also

• Permit (fish) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Trachinotus on Wikispecies.Wikispecies

Anagrams

• premit

French

Verb

permit

1. third-person singular past historic of permettre

English

Etymology

From Middle English deignen, from Old French deignier (“consider worthy”), from Latin d?gn?, d?gn?r? (“consider worthy”), from d?gnus (“worthy”). Cognate to dignity and French daigner.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /de?n/
• Rhymes: -e?n
• Homophones: Dane

Verb

deign (third-person singular simple present deigns, present participle deigning, simple past and past participle deigned)

1. (intransitive) To condescend; to do despite a perceived affront to one's dignity.

   He didn't even deign to give us a nod of the head; he thought us that far beneath him.

2. (transitive) To condescend to give; to do something.
3. (obsolete) To esteem worthy; to consider worth notice.
   • c. 1590, William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard and Ed[ward] Blout, plublished 1623, ?OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 21, column 1:

     Go, go, be gone, to ?aue your Ship from wrack, / Which cannot peri?h hauing thee aboarde, / Being de?tin’d to a drier death on ?hore?: / I mu?t goe ?end ?ome better Me??enger, / I fear my Iulia would not daigne my lines, / Receiuing them from ?uch a worthle??e po?t.

Related terms

• deem
• dignity

See also

• condescend
• spare
• suffer

Translations

Anagrams

• Edgin, digne, dinge, gnide, nidge