permit

permit · verb, noun¹

1. Latin · derived frompermittō“give up, allow”
2. Middle French · derived frompermettre
3. Middle English · inherited frompermitten
4. English todaypermit

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

permit · noun²

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromπηλαμύς“young tuna”
2. Spanish · derived frompalometa
3. English todaypermit

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

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. To allow (something) to happen, to give permission for.
• from 15th c. To allow (someone) to do something; to give permission to.
• from 16th c. To allow for, to make something possible.
• from 18th c. To allow, to admit (of).
• from 15th c. To hand over, resign (something to someone).
• from 17th c. An artifact or document rendering something allowed or legal.
• from 17th c. A learner's permit.
• 16th–19th c. Formal permission.