The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Permit \Per*mit"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permitted; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Permitting.] [L. permittere, permissum, to let through,
   to allow, permit; per + mittere to let go, send. See Per-,
   and Mission.]
   1. To consent to; to allow or suffer to be done; to tolerate;
      to put up with.
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            What things God doth neither command nor forbid . .
            . he permitteth with approbation either to be done
            or left undone.                       --Hooker.
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   2. To grant (one) express license or liberty to do an act; to
      authorize; to give leave; -- followed by an infinitive.
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            Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. --Acts
                                                  xxvi. 1.
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   3. To give over; to resign; to leave; to commit.
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            Let us not aggravate our sorrows,
            But to the gods permit the event of things.
                                                  --Addison.
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   Syn: To allow; let; grant; admit; suffer; tolerate; endure;
        consent to.

   Usage: To Allow, Permit, Suffer, Tolerate. To allow
          is more positive, denoting (at least originally and
          etymologically) a decided assent, either directly or
          by implication. To permit is more negative, and
          imports only acquiescence or an abstinence from
          prevention. The distinction, however, is often
          disregarded by good writers. To suffer has a stronger
          passive or negative sense than to permit, sometimes
          implying against the will, sometimes mere
          indifference. To tolerate is to endure what is
          contrary to will or desire. To suffer and to tolerate
          are sometimes used without discrimination.
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