Etymology Map
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License

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means an official permit

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
licentia
Latin · ancient
"freedom, permission"
from 'licere', to be permitted, the root of 'illicit'
2
Stage 2 of 3
licence
Old French · medieval
"permission"
formal permission
3
Stage 3 of 3
license
English · 1300s
"permission"
driving licences date from the 1900s
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Read the full story

License’s story begins in Latin: licentia meant “freedom, permission.” From 'licere', to be permitted, the root of 'illicit'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as licence. Formal permission. It reached English by 1300s as license. Driving licences date from the 1900s. Today, license means an official permit.