Licencer

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person or organization that grants formal permission or authorization to another party to use something, such as intellectual property or a facility
2. An entity that issues a licence permitting someone else to operate under specified terms or to utilize protected rights or resources
3. A party that authorizes another to engage in a particular activity or use specific property by issuing an official licence or permit

Etymology: "Licence" comes from Latin "licentia," meaning freedom or permission, which grew from "licere," to be allowed. It reached English through Old French "licence," keeping the sense of permission granted by an authority. The verb "license" was formed from that noun, and "-er" was added to name the person who grants the permission. The spelling "licencer" keeps the "-ce" of the British noun "licence," while many dictionaries list "licenser" as the standard form. Its most distinctive historical use is for an official who granted permission to stage plays, a role that gave the word its association with censorship as well as with authorization.

Synonyms: licensor