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permissively

permissively

5.7
Allowing a lot of freedom and few rules
  • adverb
  • /pərˈmɪsɪvli/
translation icon : permisivamente
  • Parents often permissively let their children choose their own bedtime on weekends.

Examples

  • If the structures of the latter are strong and the boundaries fixed, the strategies to achieve interdisciplinarity require force and are seen as transgressive; if they are weak, most forms of interdisciplinarity are permissively assumed to be natural excursions.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The teacher permissively allowed students to explore their interests during the project.

  • He permissively accepted their differing opinions without trying to impose his beliefs.

Synonyms

freely
vspermissively
287 1.0

In a way that has no rules or limits

allows freedom through tolerant attitude rather than describing actual unrestricted movement
tolerantly
vspermissively
1 4.1

In a calm way that accepts different opinions or behavior

permits broad freedom rather than only accepting differing opinions
leniently
vspermissively
1 3.4

To treat someone in a not strict way when judging or punishing them

allows a great deal of freedom rather than only showing simple tolerance
laxly
vspermissively
7.8

In a careless, not strict way

allows leniency by choice rather than through carelessness or neglect
unrestrictedly
vspermissively
6.5

Without any limits or controls

permits freedom by tolerance rather than meaning absolute absence of limits
unrestrainedly
vspermissively
7.6

In a way that shows strong feeling and no holding back

permits freedom by tolerance rather than referring to uncontrolled behavior

Antonyms

103 3.7

Someone acts in a careful way that follows rules exactly

In a way that limits what is allowed

How Permissive

permissively
5.7
leniently
1 3.4
tolerantly
1 4.1
strictly
103 3.7

Surface Forms

permissively positive
permissiverly comparative
permissivestly superlative

Morphology

permissively = permissive (transparent) = permit + ive + ly

Adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'permissive' yields an adverb meaning 'in a lenient or allowing way', which is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

Permissively comes from permit, which itself comes from the Latin parts per- 'through' and mittere 'to send'. So, doing something permissively is like letting it 'go through' and giving a lot of freedom.