Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
LICENSE
I. noun or licence
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French licence, from Latin licentia, from licent-, licens, present participle of licēre to be permitted
Date: 14th century
1. permission to act, freedom of action,
2. a permission granted by competent authority to engage in a business or occupation or in an activity otherwise unlawful, a document, plate, or tag evidencing a license granted, a grant by the holder of a copyright or patent to another of any of the rights embodied in the copyright or patent short of an assignment of all rights,
3. freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility, disregard for standards of personal conduct ; licentiousness, deviation from fact, form, or rule by an artist or writer for the sake of the effect gained, see: freedom licensed adjective
II. transitive verb also licence (licensed; also licenced; licensing; also licencing)
Date: 15th century
1. to issue a license to, to permit or authorize especially by formal license, to give permission or consent to ; allow , licensable adjective licensor also licenser noun