allow

Where does the word "allow" come from? It comes from Latin allaudare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Allow’s story begins in Latin: allaudare meant “to praise.” 'ad-' plus 'laudare', to praise; merged with 'allocare', to assign. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as alouer. Two Latin verbs collapsed into one French word. It reached English by 1300s as allow. The praising sense died out and 'permit' took over. Today, allow means to let someone do something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient allaudare "to praise", 'ad-' plus 'laudare', to praise; merged with 'allocare', to assign.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval alouer "to praise; to assign", two Latin verbs collapsed into one French word.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s allow "to praise; to permit", the praising sense died out and 'permit' took over.