n.
Pronunciation: l ī - ' sen(t)-sh ē - ə t, esp in sense 2 li-
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin licentiatus, from past participle of licentiare to allow, from Latin licentia
Date: 1555
1 : a person who has a license granted especially by a university to practice a profession
2 : an academic degree ranking below that of doctor given by some European universities