What is permissible? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of permissible

permissibleadjective

được phép

/pəˈmɪsəbl//pərˈmɪsəbl/

Where does the word permissible come from?

The origin of the word "permissible" can be traced back to the late 16th century when it first appeared in English as "permissible." The roots of this word lie in the Latin prefix "per" meaning "through" or "thoroughly," and the verb "mittere" meaning "to send" or "to let go." The Latin root "MISS" was coined from the contraction of "MIT-TEA-RE" where "TEA" stood for "per," and "RE" stood for "res," meaning "thing" or "matter." The ultimate origin of "MISS" is therefore "MIT-TEA-RE," which essentially translates to "to send forth." When the Latin prefix "PER" was added to the original Latin word "MISSUM," which was "missionem" meaning "mission," it became "PERMISSUM," which meant "that which is sent through" or "the act of sending thoroughly." Over time, this word evolved to "permissible" in the English language. Today, the meaning of "permissible" remains very close to its origins. The Dictionary of New Internationalist English defines it as "allowed, lawful, or acceptable according to certain rules, policies, or principles," which closely connects to the Latin meaning "the act of sending thoroughly." In essence, "permissible" means something that falls under the umbrella of the acceptable, allowed, or lawful boundaries set by particular rules, policies, or principles.

Vocabulary summary permissible

typeadjective

meaningallowable, acceptable, tolerable

typeDefault

meaningallowed

Example of vocabulary permissiblenamespace

  • Smoking in this building is not permitted, but smoking in designated areas is permissible.
  • Although visitors are not allowed to bring outside food into the museum, they are permissible to drink from their water bottles.
  • The dress code for the concert is strictly enforced, but dresses and skirts of moderate length are permissible.
  • Parking in this lot is reserved for employees, but customers are permissible to park if they obtain a permit from the receptionist.
  • The university has stricter policies regarding school breaks, but traveling during special occasions is permissible with prior approval.

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