See Also: permissive(dictionary)
permissive(dictionary)
PERMISSIVE(law)
permissive cell(medicine)
permissive temperature(medicine)

permissive (iou)



permissive adjective & noun. L15.
[French, or medieval Latin permissivus, from Latin permiss-; see PERMISSION, -IVE.]
A. adjective.
Permitted, allowed; done or acting with permission; optional. L15.
Modern Law Review Advising about perpetuities, permissive waste and the principal mansion house.
Having the quality of permitting or giving permission; that allows something to be done or to happen. Now freq., tolerant, liberal, allowing freedom, esp. in sexual matters. L15.
Time A permissive parent like mild-mannered Mike Mansfield. B. Bainbridge He dated the onset of the permissive society as preceding the Profumo Affair.
Grammar. Of a verbal mood: expressing permission or a wish. M19.
b. ellipt. as noun.
Grammar. The permissive mood; a word, form, etc., in the permissive mood. M19.
A permissive person. M20.
permissively adverb in a permissive way; by permission: L16.
permissiveness noun M19.
permissivism noun tolerant or permissive beliefs or attitudes M20.
permissivist noun a tolerant or permissive person M20.