— licensable , adj. — licenseless , adj. — licenser; esp. Law, licensor , n.
/luy"seuhns/ , n. , v. , licensed, licensing .
n.
1. formal permission from a governmental or other constituted authority to do something, as to carry on some business or profession.
2. a certificate, tag, plate, etc., giving proof of such permission; official permit: a driver's license.
3. permission to do or not to do something.
4. intentional deviation from rule, convention, or fact, as for the sake of literary or artistic effect: poetic license.
5. exceptional freedom allowed in a special situation.
6. excessive or undue freedom or liberty.
7. licentiousness.
8. the legal right to use a patent owned by another.
v.t.
9. to grant authoritative permission or license to.
[ 1325-75; ME licence licentia authorization, L: freedom, equiv. to licent- (s. of licens, prp. of licere to be allowed) + -ia -IA; see -ENCE ]