licet

From Proto-Indo-European *leyk- (“to prepare for sale”), with no certain cognates outside of Italic. Cognate with liceor, liceō, Oscan [script needed] (líkítud, “it is permitted”); outside of Italic, compare perhaps Lithuanian reikė́ti (“to need”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈli.ket/, [ˈlʲɪkɛt̪]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈli.t͡ʃet/, [ˈliːt͡ʃet̪]

Verb

licet (present infinitive licēre, perfect active licuit or licitum est, future participle licitūrus); second conjugation, no passive

1. (with dative) to be allowed; to be permitted [ quotations ▼]

   Licetne pauca?

1. May I speak a word with you?

   (literally, “Are a few [words] permitted?”)

1. Quod licet Iovī, nōn licet bovī

1. Gods may do what cattle may not

   (literally, “What is permissible for Jupiter is not permissible for an ox”)

1. (impersonal, with subjunctive or, post-classically, indicative) although, even if [ quotations ▼]