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Permit vs Admit - What's the difference?

permit | admit |

In transitive terms the difference between permit and admit

is that permit is to allow (someone) to do something; to give permission to while admit is to allow to enter a hospital or similar facility for treatment.

In intransitive terms the difference between permit and admit

is that permit is to allow, to admit (of) while admit is to give warrant or allowance, to grant opportunity or permission (+ {{term|of|lang=en}}).

As verbs the difference between permit and admit

is that permit is to hand over, resign (something to someone) while admit is to allow to enter; to grant entrance, whether into a place, or into the mind, or consideration; to receive; to take.

As a noun permit

is formal permission.

permit

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) permitten, from (etyl) permettre, from (etyl) .

Verb

(permitt)
  • * (Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)
  • Let us not aggravate our sorrows, / But to the gods permit the event of things.
  • To allow (something) to happen, to give permission for.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.}}
  • * 1930 , "Presbytarians", Time , 19 Dec 1930:
  • Last week the decision on two points was conclusive: the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. will not permit' ordination of women as ministers, but will ' permit their election as ruling elders, permission which makes possible a woman as moderator.
  • To allow (someone) to do something; to give permission to.
  • * 2009 , Patricia Cohen, New York Times , 17 Jan 09, p. 1:
  • He was ultimately cleared, but during that period, Mr. Ackman said, his lawyers would not permit him to defend himself publicly.
  • To allow for, to make something possible.
  • * 2006 , Mary Riddell, "Trident is a Weapon of Mass Destruction", The Observer , 3 Dec 06:
  • What was left to say? Quite a lot, if only parliamentary time permitted .
  • * 2009 , John Mitchell, "Clubs Preview", The Guardian , 25 Jul 09:
  • For snackage there's a 1950s-themed diner plus a barbie on the terrace, weather permitting .
  • To allow, to admit (of).
  • * 1910 , , "Reginald in Russia", Reginald in Russia :
  • ‘You English are always so frivolous,’ said the Princess. ‘In Russia we have too many troubles to permit of our being light-hearted.’
  • * 2007 , Ian Jack, The Guardian , 22 Sep 07:
  • "As an instrument of economic policy, incantation does not permit of minor doubts or scruples."
  • (pronounced like noun) To grant formal authorization for (something).
  • (pronounced like noun) To attempt to obtain or succeed in obtaining formal authorization for (something).
  • Usage notes
    * This is a catenative verb that in the active form takes the gerund (-ing)'', but in passive takes the ''to infinitive . See

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Formal permission.
  • An artifact or document rendering something allowed or legal.
  • A construction permit can be obtained from the town offices.
    Go over to the park office and get a permit for the
  • 3 shelter.
  • Etymology 2

    An irregular borrowing from (etyl) (m), probably from a Doric variant of (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A pompano of the species .
  • See also
    * * (Trachinotus) ----

    admit

    English

    Verb

    (admitt)
  • To allow to enter; to grant entrance, whether into a place, or into the mind, or consideration; to receive; to take.
  • A ticket admits one into a playhouse.
    They were admitted into his house.
    to admit a serious thought into the mind
    to admit evidence in the trial of a cause
  • To allow (one) to enter on an office or to enjoy a privilege; to recognize as qualified for a franchise.
  • to admit an attorney to practice law
    the prisoner was admitted to bail
  • To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation which it is impossible to deny; to own or confess.
  • the argument or fact is admitted
    he admitted his guilt
    she admitted taking drugs'' / ''she admitted to taking drugs
  • * 2011 , Kitty Kelley, Nancy Reagan: The Unauthorized Biography (ISBN 1451674767):
  • His sister, Patti, also admitted taking drugs,
  • To be capable of; to permit. In this sense, "of" may be used after the verb, or may be omitted.
  • the words do not admit such a construction.
  • * Holder
  • Four bells admit twenty-four changes in ringing.
  • To give warrant or allowance, to grant opportunity or permission (+ of).
  • circumstance do not admit of this
    the text does not admit of this interpretation
  • To allow to enter a hospital or similar facility for treatment.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011
  • , date=December 16 , author=Denis Campbell , title=Hospital staff 'lack skills to cope with dementia patients' , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage="This shocking report proves once again that we urgently need a radical shake-up of hospital care," said Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society. "Given that people with dementia occupy a quarter of hospital beds and that many leave in worse health than when they were admitted , it is unacceptable that training in dementia care is not the norm."}}

    Usage notes

    In the senses 3. and 4. this is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . See

    Synonyms

    * (to allow entry to) * (to recognise as true)

    Derived terms

    * admittable * admittance * admittedly * admitter * admitting