— permissively , adv. — permissiveness , n.
/peuhr mis"iv/ , adj.
1. habitually or characteristically accepting or tolerant of something, as social behavior or linguistic usage, that others might disapprove or forbid.
2. granting or denoting permission: a permissive nod.
3. optional.
4. Genetics. (of a cell) permitting replication of a strand of DNA that could be lethal, as a viral segment or mutant gene.
[ 1425-75; late ME; see PERMISSION, -IVE; cf. F permissif ]
Syn. 1. indulgent, lenient, lax.