Usage Note
Autoriser is more formal than permettre (to allow) and often appears in official, legal, or administrative contexts. Être autorisé à means 'to be authorized to'. The related noun is autorisation ('authorization', 'permit'). S'autoriser à (reflexive) means 'to allow oneself to'.
Examples
"Le directeur a autorisé la réunion exceptionnelle."
Natural Translation
The director authorized the exceptional meeting.
Literal Translation
The director has-authorized the meeting exceptional.
Related Words
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