different between sanction vs enable

English

Etymology

From Middle French sanction, from Latin sanctio.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?sæ?k??n/

Noun

sanction (countable and uncountable, plural sanctions)

1. An approval, by an authority, generally one that makes something valid.

2. A penalty, punishment, or some coercive measure, intended to ensure compliance; especially one adopted by several nations, or by an international body.

3. A law, treaty, or contract, or a clause within a law, treaty, or contract, specifying any of the above.

Translations

Verb

sanction (third-person singular simple present sanctions, present participle sanctioning, simple past and past participle sanctioned)

1. (transitive) To ratify; to make valid.
2. (transitive) To give official authorization or approval to; to countenance.
   • 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.21:

     Many of the most earnest Protestants were business men, to whom lending money at interest was essential. Consequently first Calvin, and then other Protestant divines, sanctioned interest.

3. (transitive) To penalize (a state etc.) with sanctions.

Translations

References

• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928) , “Sanction”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume VIII, Part 2 (S–Sh), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697, page 82, column 1.

Anagrams

• actinons, canonist, cantions, contains

French

Etymology

From Latin sanctio

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??k.sj??/

Noun

sanction f (plural sanctions)

1. sanction

Further reading

• “sanction” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

From Middle English enablen, equivalent to en- +? able.

Pronunciation

• (General American, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??ne?b?l/
• Rhymes: -e?b?l

Verb

enable (third-person singular simple present enables, present participle enabling, simple past and past participle enabled)

1. To make somebody able (to do, or to be, something); to give sufficient ability or power to do or to be; to give strength or ability to.
   • 1611, King James Bible, "1 Tim. i. 12"

     And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

   Synonyms: empower, endow

2. To affirm; to make firm and strong.
3. To qualify or approve for some role or position; to render sanction or authorization to; to confirm suitability for.

   Synonyms: let, permit, authorize

4. To yield the opportunity or provide the possibility for something; to provide with means, opportunities, and the like.

   Synonym: allow

   • 1711, October 13, Joseph Addison, The Spectator, number 195

     Temperance gives Nature her full play, and enables her to exert herself in all her force and vigor.

   • April 16, 2018, Norimitsu Onishi and Selam Gebrekidan writing in The New York Times, ‘They Eat Money’: How Mandela’s Political Heirs Grow Rich Off Corruption
   • 2009, Meribeth A. Dayme, Dynamics of the Singing Voice, Springer Science & Business Media, p. 174:

     Trainers of modern athletes monitor performance by using high tech equipment and biometric bodysuits with embedded sensors to enable detailed analysis of movement, balance, efficiency for athletic performance.

5. To imply or tacitly confer excuse for an action or a behavior.

6. (electronics) To put a circuit element into action by supplying a suitable input pulse.
7. (chiefly electronics, computing) To activate, to make operational (especially of a function of an electronic or mechanical device).

   Synonyms: activate, turn on

   Antonym: disable

Derived terms

• enabler
• enablement
• re-enable
• reenable

Translations

Further reading

• enable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• enable in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• enable at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• baleen