Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “permissive” come from?

Permissive comes from French permissif, meaning "allowing" or "characterized by permission."

permissive (English): Giving permission, or predisposed to give it;...

Definitions

  1. Giving permission, or predisposed to give it;...

Ancestry of “permissive”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchpermissifpermissive, lenient
2Frenchpermissionpermission
3Latinpermissioyielding, ceding; surrender; leave, permission
4Latin-tiō—
5Latindissertātiō—
6Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
7Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “permissive”

  • permissiveness
  • nonpermissive
  • permissively
  • permissivity
  • unpermissive
  • impermissively
  • nonpermissiveness
  • impermissive
  • unpermissiveness
  • permissivist
  • impermissiveness
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →