permit

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Rhymes with -ɪt, -ɜː(ɹ)mɪt

From Middle English permitten, borrowed from Middle French permettre, from Latin permittō (“give up, allow”), from per (“through”) + mittō (“send”).

transitive To allow (something) to happen, to give permission for. 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.
transitive To allow (someone) to do something; to give permission to. He was ultimately cleared, but during that period, Mr. Ackman said, his lawyers would not permit him to defend himself publicly.
intransitive To allow for, to make something possible. What was left to say? Quite a lot, if only parliamentary time permitted.
intransitive To allow, to admit (of). "You English are always so frivolous," said the Princess. "In Russia we have too many troubles to permit of our being light-hearted."
transitive To grant formal authorization for (something). The Building Department permitted that project last week.
transitive To attempt to obtain or succeed in obtaining formal authorization for (something). We've been busy permitting the State Street development.
archaic, rare To hand over, resign (something to someone). Let us not aggravate our sorrows, / But to the gods permit the event of things.

An artifact or document rendering something allowed or legal. A construction permit can be obtained from the town offices.
A learner's permit.
obsolete Formal permission.

Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)mɪt

An irregular borrowing from Spanish palometa, probably from a Doric variant of Ancient Greek πηλαμύς (pēlamús, “young tuna”).