allow
/əˈlaʊ/
verb
Origin
Latin
allaudare — to praise
Overview
Meaning Now
- To give the necessary time or opportunity for.
- To let someone do something; permit or tolerate.
Literal older meaning
To place, set, or allot (from Old French 'alouer').
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
alouen
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word 'allow' has a complex history because it represents the convergence of two distinct Latin verbs: 'allaudare' (to praise) and 'allocare' (to place or allocate). Over time, the sense of 'approval' shifted into 'permission'.
Evolution
- Latin
allaudare
“to praise”
- Old French
alouer
“to approve, to assign”
Merged with 'allouer' (to allocate) from Latin 'allocare'.
- Middle English
alouen
“to approve, permit, or allow”
- Modern English
allow
“to permit”
Connections
Word parts
al-
prefix
to/toward
low
root
praise/assign
Related across languages
French
allouer
to allocate or allow
Spanish
alabar
to praise (from the 'allaudare' branch)
Explore next
Related to allow
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.