Wordul · all words

verb · 2 syllables · /ə'laʊ/

ALLOW

What does "ALLOW" mean?

To permit something to happen or someone to do something.

Meanings

  1. To give permission for something or someone. The teacher allowed us to use notes.
  2. To make possible or provide for; to set aside. Allow an hour for traffic.
  3. To admit or concede that something is true. I allow that I may have been wrong. formal

Did you know?

  • 'Allow' is a two-word collision: it fused Latin 'allaudare' (to praise) with 'allocare' (to place), which is also the root of 'allocate' and 'locate'.

Word origin

From Old French 'alouer', which merged two Latin sources: 'allaudare' (to praise) and 'allocare' (to place, allot); English 'allow' inherited both the 'approve' and the 'assign' senses.

A little poem

One word unlocks the gate, undoes the no-
small mercy in the syllable 'allow'.

couplet

Wordplay

  • My software said permission denied, so I asked nicely. Turns out 'allow' once meant 'to praise' - I just needed to flatter the firewall.

What it teaches

To allow is quietly powerful: the one who can permit also, by silence, forbids.

Quick facts

What does ALLOW mean?

To permit something to happen or someone to do something.

Is ALLOW a valid word?

Yes — ALLOW is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.

How many letters is ALLOW?

ALLOW has 5 letters and 2 syllables.

Where does ALLOW come from?

From Old French 'alouer', which merged two Latin sources: 'allaudare' (to praise) and 'allocare' (to place, allot); English 'allow' inherited both the 'approve' and the 'assign' senses.

What can ALLOW teach us?

To allow is quietly powerful: the one who can permit also, by silence, forbids.

How players do

Be the first to solve it.

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