licencelicensen.
/ˈlʌɪsns/, U.S. /ˈlaɪsns/ 1. † b. spec. Leave or permission to depart; chiefly in phrase, to take one's licence, to take one's leave; also licence and congee. Obsolete. (Cf. congee n.2 2b and to take one's leave at leave n.1 Phrases 2a(a))
a. Liberty (to do something), leave, permission. Now somewhat rare. †Also occasionally exemption from (something). †Formerly often in licence and leave; by, with, without (a person's) licence; to get, give, have, obtain, take (a) licence. (Cf. leave n.1 Phrases 2.)
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > [noun]
leaveeOE
yleaveOE
willOE
grant?c1225
thaving?c1225
grantisea1300
licence1362
grace1389
pardona1425
libertyc1425
patiencec1425
permission1425
sufferingc1460
congee1477
legencea1500
withganga1500
favour1574
beleve1575
permittance1580
withgate1599
passage1622
sufferage1622
attolerance1676
sanction1738
permiss-
society > morality > duty or obligation > moral or legal constraint > immunity or exemption from liability > [noun]
freedomeOE
freeshiplOE
exemptionc1380
immunityc1384
unpunishmentc1450
impunity1532
faculty1533
licence1551
vacuitya1620
1362 W. Langland Piers Plowman A. Prol. 82 And askeþ leue and lycence at londun to dwelle.
c1386 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Prol. 855 If I have licence of this worthy frere.
1422 T. Hoccleve Min. Poems (1892) 223 Now, sire, yit a word, by your licence.
1493 Charter in A. Laing Lindores Abbey (1876) xvii. 179 Anentis the making of out men burges but licens of the said abbot.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin i. 17 She ansuerde prayinge she myght speke with hir confessour; and they yaf hir lycence.
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. ii. sig. a.iiiiv Whose names we purpose, to shewe with lycens.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) John xix. f. clv And Pilate gave him licence.
1532 (a1475) J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Digby 145) in J. Fortescue-Aland Difference between Absolute & Limited Monarchy (1714) 119 Hou long any of them may be absent, hou he schal have his leve and licence..may be conceyvyd by leysure.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. x The duke was banished..and yet without license of Kyng Richarde he is returned again into the realme.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) xvii. 115 He gat neuyr lecens to marye, quhil on to the tyme, that [etc.].
1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia ii. sig. Jiiv The people..haue geuen a perpetual licence from labour to learnyng.
1640 Order Ho. Commons in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Third Pt. (1692) I. 143 Mr. R. H. has License to go and speak with Sir G. R.
1675 R. Baxter Catholick Theol. ii. i. 122 Doth God forbid it? No; he commandeth it, which is more than leave or licence.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 247 It would be difficult to go from hence without their License.
1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. I. App. ii. 256 If he sold his estate without licence from his lord.
1765 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. I. i. i. 133 The king..may..prohibit any of his subjects from going into foreign parts without licence.
1807 G. Crabbe Village (rev. ed.) in Poems 23 Who take a license round their fields to stray.
1838 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece V. 81 The declaration..was now interpreted..as a license to restore their political unity.
1861 J. S. Mill Utilitarianism v. 66 Others would confine the license of disobedience to unjust laws.
1888 M. Morris Claverhouse vi. 110 The same license was granted to him for dealing with all future criminals of the same class.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)]
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
atwendOE
awayOE
to wend awayOE
awendOE
gangOE
rimeOE
flitc1175
to fare forthc1200
depart?c1225
part?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
biwitec1300
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to draw awayc1330
passc1330
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
voidc1374
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
waive1390
to pass out ofa1398
avoida1400
to pass awaya1400
to turn awaya1400
slakec1400
wagc1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
muck1429
packc1450
recede1450
roomc1450
to show (a person) the feetc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
devoidc1485
rebatea1500
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
to go one's ways1530
retire?1543
avaunt1549
to make out1558
trudge1562
vade?1570
fly1581
leave1593
wag1594
to get off1595
to go off1600
to put off1600
shog1600
troop1600
to forsake patch1602
exit1607
hence1614
to give offa1616
to take off1657
to move off1692
to cut (also slip) the painter1699
sheera1704
to go about one's business1749
mizzle1772
to move out1792
transit1797–1803
stump it1803
to run away1809
quit1811
to clear off1816
to clear out1816
nash1819
fuff1822
to make (take) tracks (for)1824
mosey1829
slope1830
to tail out1830
to walk one's chalks1835
to take away1838
shove1844
trot1847
fade1848
evacuate1849
shag1851
to get up and get1854
to pull out1855
to cut (the) cable(s)1859
to light out1859
to pick up1872
to sling one's Daniel or hook1873
to sling (also take) one's hook1874
smoke1893
screw1896
shoot1897
voetsak1897
to tootle off1902
to ship out1908
to take a (run-out, walk-out, etc.) powder1909
to push off1918
to bugger off1922
biff1923
to fuck off1929
to hit, split or take the breeze1931
to jack off1931
to piss offa1935
to do a mick1937
to take a walk1937
to head off1941
to take a hike1944
moulder1945
to chuff off1947
to get lost1947
to shoot through1947
skidoo1949
to sod off1950
peel1951
bug1952
split1954
poop1961
mugger1962
frig1965
society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart, leave, or go away [verb (intransitive)]
to come awayeOE
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
awayOE
dealc1000
goOE
awendOE
rimeOE
to go one's wayOE
flitc1175
depart?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
to turn awaya1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
recede1450
roomc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
avaunt1549
trudge1562
vade?1570
discoast1571
leave1593
wag1594
to go off1600
troop1600
hence1614
to set on one's foota1616
to pull up one's stumps1647
quit1811
to clear out1816
slope1830
to walk one's chalks1835
shove1844
to roll out1850
to pull out1855
to light out1859
to take a run-out powder1909
to push off (also along)1923
society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > [noun] > permission to go
licence1475
road1863
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xvi. l. 67 The king hem ȝaf license Forto gon from his precense.]
1475 Bk. Noblesse 30 Good men of armes..discoragethe them as sone as paiment failethe, and takethe theire congie and licence of theire prince.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) v. 24 Of her than I dyd take my lycence.
1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos iv. K j b Fayne wold he flee, and of that contrey sweete his licence take.
2.
a. A formal, usually a printed or written permission from a constituted authority to do something, e.g. to marry, to print or publish a book, to preach, to carry on some trade, etc.; a permit. Also in phrases †book of licence (see book n. 1d), letter of licence and composition (see quot. 1809), licence of mortmain (see mortmain v.); (to marry) by licence in opposition to by banns.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > [noun] > formal or authoritative permission > a formal or authoritative permission
safe conduct?1404
licence1433
royalty1633
fiat1647
licent1676
liceat1686
privilege1715
sanction1720
smart ticket1734
post warrant1812
sanctionment1818
wine-warrant1857
carnet1926
1433 Rolls of Parl. IV. 467/1 To praye..the kynge to graunte licence of Exchaunge, under his grete Seal.
1463 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 187 We..charge you to suffyr hym..to enjoye our sayd lycence wyth outyn any let.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. CCiii This is she that in maner hath distroyed all relygions, by the reason of dispensacions or lycences.
1549 in Vicary's Anat. Bodie of Man (1888) App. iii. 136 [To] requyre yow..to drawe a booke of Lysaunce from his Maiestie, to the Maior and Auldremen [etc.].
1552–3 Inventory Church Goods in Ann. Diocese Lichfield (1863) IV. 46 xl s. peyd to the bysshope for his laysance to byrrey.
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. 6 They must first get a Licence in writing before they may vse them [the Scriptures].
1617 in Grosart's Spenser (1882) III. p. ci John fflorio, esquier, and Rose Spicer marrd by licence from Mr. Weston's Office.
1641 Declar. Both Houses in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Third Pt. (1692) I. 515 Captain S. did by vertue and authority of Your Majesties License, embark at White-Haven.
1649 F. Thorpe Charge York Assizes 20 For a Badgers or Drovers License two shillings.
1683 Robin Consc. 15 If I [a publican] my Licence should observe,..Both I and mine alas would starve.
1724 R. Wodrow Life J. Wodrow (1828) 53 The form of his licence [to preach] I insert from the original.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. x. 410 A licence for the shipping off his stores and provisions.
1763 Brit. Mag. 4 495 Would you keep your pearls from tramplers, Weigh the licence, weigh the bans.
1767 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (new ed.) II. 269 It..is..necessary, for corporations to have a licence of mortmain from the crown.
1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. vi. 59 Men must..pay for the licence to gather [the..fruits] . View more context for this quotation
1797 E. Burke Lett. Peace Regic. France iii, in Wks. (1815) VIII. 406 Licences to dealers in spirits and wine.
1809 R. Langford Introd. Trade 108 A Letter of License is an instrument or writing granted to a debtor by his creditors, giving him respite and time for payment of his debts... When..they not only grant respite and time for payment, but agree to allow an abatement on their respective accounts, then this instrument is called a Letter of License and Composition.
1833 H. Martineau Berkeley the Banker i. iv. 92 A fine of £100 for every act of issue after the term of license has expired.
1840 T. B. Macaulay Ranke's Hist. in Ess. (1843) III. 240 A congregation is formed. A license is obtained. A plain brick building,..is run up, and named Ebenezer or Bethel.
1841 E. Bulwer-Lytton Night & Morning i. i Do you marry by license? No; my intended is not of age.
1851 R. Nesbit in Mem. (1858) xii. 305 After receiving ‘licence’, he preached in the Mission Lecture Room.
1872 W. H. Dixon W. Penn (rev. ed.) vii. 61 ‘The Sandy Foundation Shaken’ was printed without a license from the Bishop of London.
b. The document embodying such a permission.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > permission > [noun] > document which permits or authorizes
placard1482
warranta1513
placket1571
placate1572
licence1598
permission1607
purwanah1619
permit1649
furlougha1658
legitimation1660
chitty1698
chop1699
cedula1724
ticket of leave1732
chit1757
stiff1892
1598 B. Yong tr. G. Polo Enamoured Diana in tr. J. de Montemayor Diana 393 The Kings licence being now come.
1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts iv. i. sig. H3 Pray ride to Nottingham, get a licence.
1640 M. Parker Robin Conscience (new ed.) 11 I bad her [sc. my hostess] on her Licence looke.
1888 Daily News 28 Sept. 3/3 There was a custom among cab proprietors of ‘chair-marking’ their drivers' licences.
1899 W. Raymond Two Men o' Mendip xv. 249 He'd have no choice but to marry us, when I did come, licence in han'.
c. In some Universities, a certificate of competency in some faculty.
ΚΠ
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) Licence is also used for the Letters or Certificates taken out in the Universities, whether in Law, Physic, or Divinity.
1900–1901 Durham Univ. Cal. 141 Final Examination for the Licence in Theology.
1900–1901 Durham Univ. Cal. 487 Licence in Sanitary Science.
3.
a. Liberty of action conceded or acknowledged; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > freedom of action or from restraint > [noun]
freedomOE
freenesslOE
libertya1393
licence?a1400
wilfulnessc1460
immunity1549
latitude1605
voluntariness1612
liberum arbitrium1642
free agencya1646
libertinism1649
unrestrainedness1698
unrestraint1755
relaxity1759
head1804
laissez-aller1818
unrestrictedness1825
uninhibitedness1947
?a1400 Morte Arth. 457 Thy lycence es lemete in presence of lordys.
a1600 A. Montgomerie Misc. Poems xxxvi. 48 That nou sik licience haif we none.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) i. ii. 101 Taunt my faults With such full License, as both Truth and Malice Haue power to vtter. View more context for this quotation
1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. v. 5 The true license of disputations.
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. vi. 35 Do you so understand the licence you have, Miss?
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. iv. ix. 299 English law..has neither definition nor words to..circumscribe the license of the Judge.
1834 M. Edgeworth Helen III. v. 93 The first little fib in which Lady Cecilia, as a customary licence of speech, indulged herself the moment she awoke this morning.
1850 C. Kingsley Alton Locke I. xi. 171 I thanked him again for what license he had given me.
1868 E. Edwards Life Sir W. Ralegh I. xiii. 249 He..allowed great and public licence to his tongue.
1875 R. Browning Aristophanes' Apol. 337 The rooted plant aspired to range With the snake's license.
1884 Manch. Examiner 20 Feb. 4/7 Ordinary license of speech has seldom been more shamefully exceeded.
b. Excessive liberty; abuse of freedom; disregard of law or propriety; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > [noun] > lack of restraint or excessive liberty
licencec1450
misgovernancec1460
liberty1529
licentiousness1553
loose1593
licentiateness1656
c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi i. xvi. 18 Oþer mennes large licence displesiþ us, but we to ourself wol have no þinge denyed þat we aske.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) iii. ii. 42 Taunt him with the license of Inke. View more context for this quotation
1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 4 Lest I should be condemn'd of introducing licence, while I oppose Licencing.
1692 R. L'Estrange Fables (1708) xv. 20 Under the Allegory of the Ass is Insinuated the License of a Buffoon.
1719 E. Young Busiris ii. 20 Your Heart resents some Licence of my Youth.
a1720 J. Sheffield Wks. (1753) I. 272 They are for licence, not for liberty.
1780 R. B. Sheridan School for Scandal i. i. 7 The licence of invention, some people give themselves, is astonishing.
1797 E. Burke Lett. Peace Regic. France iii, in Wks. (1815) VIII. 366 The intolerable licence with which the newspapers break..the rules of decorum.
1813 W. Scott Rokeby i. xvii. 26 My license shook his sober dome.
1840 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VII. 315 The license which he gave to his troops to enrich themselves with the spoil of the country.
1850 F. W. Robertson Serm. (1864) 3rd Ser. i. 3 The first license given to the tongue is slander.
1867 R. W. Emerson Progr. Culture in Wks. (1906) III. 226 The freedom of action goes to the brink..of license.
1881 B. F. Westcott & F. J. A. Hort New Test. in Orig. Greek II. Introd. i. 9 The mixture has been accompanied or preceded by such licence in transcription.
c. Licentiousness, libertinism.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [noun]
goleshipc1000
golenessa1050
kaggerleȝcc1175
untowenshipa1250
follyc1300
wantonnessc1390
ragerya1393
nicetya1400
wantonhead1435
lightnessa1450
gole?a1500
free will?1518
nicenessa1533
looseness1576
licentiousness1586
waggishness1591
libertinage1611
libertinism1611
licence1713
fastness1859
permissiveness1946
1713 R. Steele in Guardian 1 Apr. 1/2 The Cause of much Licence and Riot.
1823 W. Scott Peveril II. v. 132 His unlimited licence..has disgusted the minds of all sober and thinking men.
1834 G. P. R. James John Marston Hall I. ix. 82 The license of every kind that then existed in the city no tongue can tell nor pen can describe.
1841 G. O. Trevelyan Life & Lett. Macaulay (1876) I. ii. 84 The reaction from Puritanic rigour into the license of the Restoration.
1901 Expositor May 367 These implements of license were originally made by God.
4. Deviation from recognized form or rule, indulged in by a writer or artist for the sake of effect; an instance of this. Frequent in phrase poetic (poetical, etc.) licence.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > [noun] > form or order of a work > deviation from recognized form
licence1530
society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > [noun] > poetic licence
poetic (poetical, etc.) licence1819
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 44 Which auctors do rather by a lycence poetycall.
1656 J. Smith Myst. Rhetorique Unvail'd 49 By the licence of this figure we give names to many things which lack names, &c.
1697 J. Dryden Ded. Æneis in tr. Virgil Wks. sig. f1 I generally join these two Licenses together.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Licences, in Painting, are the Liberties which the Painter takes in dispensing with the Rules of Perspective, and the other Laws of his Art.
a1771 T. Gray Observ. Eng. Metre in Wks. (1884) I. 359 As to any license in the feet, it is only permitted in the beginning of a long verse.
1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I cxx. 63 This liberty is a poetic licence.
1859 C. Kingsley Misc. (1860) I. 227 The poem..allows a metrical licence.
1877 L. Tollemache in Fortn. Rev. Dec. 846 By a prophetic license, perpetual means transitory.
1899 F. T. Bullen Log of Sea-waif 179 Coleridge's simile of ‘A painted ship upon a painted ocean’ is only a poet's licence.
Compounds
General attributive.
licence-duty n.
licence-fee n.
ΚΠ
1859 K. Cornwallis Panorama New World I. 137 The infliction of the license fee..tended very much to exasperate the miners.
licence-holder n.
ΚΠ
1897 Westm. Gaz. 7 Sept. 3/3 The old licence-holders are going to the wall, and the brewers are stepping in.
licence-money n.
ΚΠ
1692 in J. Munsell Ann. Albany (1850) 121 Ordered that the sheriffe have a warrant to levy the lycence money.
1900 Daily News 4 June 3/4 The Boers collected licence money from all the shops.
licence number n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > number plate > registration number
registration number1841
index number1875
plate number1881
registration mark1903
registration1930
licence number1937
rego1967
1937 D. Teilhet & H. Teilhet Feather Cloak Murders ii. 48 ‘Did you get the licence number?’..the grey car had vanished.
1972 L. Lamb Pict. Frame xx. 178 We found his van... It was Mallender's licence number.
licence plate n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > parts and equipment of motor vehicles > [noun] > number plate
number-plate1869
registration plate1883
identification plate1901
plate1919
licence plate1926
tag1935
index plate1973
1926 Amer. Speech 1 686/1 American: Number plates. English: License plates.
1962 ‘E. McBain’ Like Love (1964) xiv. 189 You didn't happen to notice the licence plate number, did you?
1974 R. C. Dennis Conversations with Corpse xiv. 140 I..landed..a 1968 license plate.
licence-tax n.
ΚΠ
1886 Pop. Sci. Monthly Feb. 464 The license-tax, as it is called there [i.e. in Wisconsin] applies to railroads, insurance, telegraph, and telephone companies.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. II. xliii. 135 Licence taxes..are directly levied by..State officials.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1362