Official permissions or documents granting someone the right to do something, like drive a car or operate a business (British spelling of 'licenses').
From Old French 'licence,' from Latin 'licentia' meaning 'freedom, permission.' The -ce ending is the British English convention; American English uses -se. The root 'licere' means 'it is allowed.'
The British spelling 'licence' vs. American 'license' is a perfect example of how English split into regional variations after American independence—the Americans simplified it, while Brits kept the Latin-influenced form still used in law and formal documents today.
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