Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
permeable
permeance
permease
permeate
Permian
permissible
permission
permission marketing
permissive
permit
permittivity
permutate
permutation
permute
pernicious
pernicious anemia
pernickety
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "permissi..." in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

permissive

per·mis·sive [ pər míssiv ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. allowing freedom of behavior: allowing or enjoying the freedom to behave in ways others might consider unacceptable, particularly in sexual matters

2. giving permission: granting permission

[15th century. < French, < Latin permiss- (see permission)]

per·mis·sive·ly adverb
per·mis·sive·ness noun
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
MSN Shopping
Encarta RSS Feeds
© 2008 Microsoft