v. Forms: 4–6 alowe, alow, (4 aloow), 5 aloue, 5–7 allowe, 6– allow. [a. OFr. aloue-r (15th c. all-), 1. to praise, commend:—L. allaudā-re (f. al- = ad- to + laudāre to praise); 2. to bestow, assign:—L. allocā-re (f. al- = ad- + locāre to place, stow. The two were apparently completely identified in OFr. and viewed as senses of one word, which was adopted with both senses in Eng. a. 1300. Between the two primary significations there naturally arose a variety of uses blending them in the general idea of assign with approval, grant, concede a thing claimed or urged, admit a thing offered, permit, etc., etc.]
I. To praise, commend, approve of. II. To admit as probable. III. To permit. IV. To bestow, grant. V. To take into account, give credit for.
I. To praise, commend, sanction, view or receive with approbation. (Fr. alouer:—L. allaudāre.)
† 1. trans. To laud, praise, commend. Obs. or dial.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 149. He wolde … be God ylyche, To be alowed.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 281. Þe gode bisshop Antoyn þer he bare þe pris, His dedes ere to alowe, for his hardynesse.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 4. Somme lakkede my lyf · allowed it fewe.
c. 1450. Merlin, xx. 355. Gretly were thei to a-lowe and to preise.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 1557, 672/2. Saint Mary Magdaleyn was more alowed of Christ for bestowing that costly oyntemente vpon hys heade … then if she had solde it.
1551. Turner, Herbal (1568), 77. I can alowe them for theyr labores in sekyng out of symples.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXVI. xiv. 594. To put that in execution which they so well allowed and approved.
1656. Bp. Hall, Occas. Med. (1857), 201. Should I be censured by a world of men, when I am secretly allowed by thee, I could contemn it.
1783. Crabbe, Village, I. Wks. 1834, II. 81. Proud To find the triumphs of his youth allow’d.
2. To approve of, sanction (ranging from a sense hardly differing from the prec., to that of barely passing as acceptable or defensible). arch.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 137. That everech man hyt moȝt alowe.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, II. 69. ‘No, redely,’ quod reson, ‘that reule I alowe.’
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, I. xiii. (1859), 9. Euery wigt loueth, and maynteneth the thyng that he alowith.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. i. 6. For the Lorde aloweth ye waye of the rightuous, but the waye of the vngodly shal perishe.
a. 1555. Ridley, Wks., 390. I refused to allow the mass with my presence.
1611. Bible, Luke xi. 48. Truely ye beare witnesse that ye allowe the deeds of your fathers.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., I. 425. Upon reasonable cause to be allowed by a justice of the peace.
b. intr. with upon, of: To approve of. (Still in some dialects as ‘allow on.’)
c. 1534. trans. Polyd. Verg., Eng. Hist., II. 120. He cowld never be movyd … to alow uppon any practyse agaynst Kinge Edward.
1583. Lett., in Fuller, Ch. Hist., X. 159. [A thing] which I allow well of.
1660. Trial Regic., 142. If you countenance and allow of their authority.
1724. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), III. 141. I use still the very same freedom with him … because I know you allow of this.
3. To receive with approval or approbation; accept. arch.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20034. Þou nu will mi wil a-lou.
1382. Wyclif, Wisd. iii. 14. Ther shal be ȝiue to hym … lot in the temple of God most aloowid [1388 a most acceptable eritage].
1465. Paston Lett., 498, II. 174. I vele but littille that my gode wille ys allowed.
1611. Cotgr., To Allow: allouer, greer, approuver, accepter.
1669. Boyle, Occas. Refl., I. i. (1675), 78. God mercifully allows the Will for the Effect … favourably accepting what we can do.
† b. intr. with of. (Cf. accept of.) Obs.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 1/2. The Churches, whiche did alreadie verie well allowe of him.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), I. i. 4. When I love you as never woman loved another, and when you have allowed of that concern and of that love—.
II. To accept as reasonable or valid; to admit (intellectually).
4. To accept as true or valid; to acknowledge, admit, grant.
1548. Coverdale, trans. Erasm. Paraphr. 1 Pet. 1. If any man allowe not the vnderstanding of Rome by Babylon.
1611. Bible, Acts xxiv. 15. Hope towards God, which they themselues also allow.
1628. Coke, On Litt., 29 b. Upon hearing the proofes either allowed or disallowed the same.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch’s Lives (1879), I. 169/2. The citizens … were compelled … to allow his great abilities.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. App. 586. Her innocence shall be allowed.
b. intr. with of (Cf. accept, admit of.)
1528. Perkins, Profit. Bk., ii. § 158 (1642), 71. They allow of that which the principall speaketh.
1587. Holinshed, Chron., I. 5/1. Manie doo not allow of this historie of Albion the giant.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 362. If we allow of Their reckoning.
1724. A. Collins, Gr. Chr. Relig., 133. As to what texts I have … alledg’d to you, you allow of them all.
1849. Lowell, Biglow P., Wks. 1879, 199. Jortin is willing to allow of other miracles.
5. with subord. cl. To admit something claimed; to acknowledge, grant, concede; to accede to an opinion.
1643. Milton, Divorce, I. xiii. (1847), 135/1. I suppose it will be allowed us that marriage is a human society.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 4, ¶ 5. She has, I will allow, a very pleasing Aspect.
1768. Franklin, Ess., Wks. 1840, II. 370. I allow also that part of the expense of the rich is in foreign produce.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., I. 131. He allowed that the old Pre-Raphaelites had … exquisite merits.
6. with compl. (inf. formerly omitted or expressed by for) To acknowledge or admit a thing to be something.
1593. R. Harvey, Philad., 36. Martia was generally allowed for ruler and king of the realme.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., III. 144. Not allowing Porsenna a lawful judge in regard of their late league.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 512, note. The Self-Tormentor of Terence’s, which is allowed a most excellent Comedy.
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scandal, II. ii. 249. They’ll not allow our friend … to be handsome.
1798. Bay, Amer. Law Rep. (1809), 43. It had been allowed for law.
1877. Mozley, Univ. Serm., 129. Poetry is allowed to border upon the horizon of mysticism.
7. To come to the conclusion, to form the opinion, or state as an opinion formed. (In Eng. and Amer. dialects.)
1580. Baret, Alv., A 297. To Alowe, to make good or allowable, to declare to be true, Approbo.
1872. C. King, Mountain. Sierra Nev., v. 98. I allow you have killed your coon in your day?
1875. Parish, Dict. Sussex Dial., 13. ‘Master Nappet, he allowed that it was almost too bad.’
1880. Julia Schayer, in Scribn. Mag., June, 293. ‘I ’lowed I’d make him sorry fur it, an’ I reckon I hev!’
III. To admit the realization of, permit.
8. trans. To concede, permit (an action or event).
1558. in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. II. App. i. 391. The queen’s proclamation … allowing only the reading of the epistles.
1651. Hobbes, Leviathan, II. xxi. 192. Where many sorts of Worship be allowed.
Mod. Such practices are no longer allowed.
b. with inf.
1637. Decree of Star Chamb., in Milton, Areop., xvi. (Arb.), 16. Euery person or persons, now allowed or admitted to have the vse of a Presse.
a. 1754. Fielding, Mod. Husb., III. vi. Wks. 1784, II. 201. Mr. Gaywit does not allow me to play at Quadrille.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 99. He was not allowed to take advantage of the general rule.
9. refl. To surrender oneself to, lend oneself to (obs.); to permit oneself to indulge in.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. vii. 107. His roguish madness Allows itself to anything.
a. 1716. Blackall, Wks., 1723. I. 149. If the Man … allows himself in that Wickedness which he thinks his Religion allows of.
1815. Paley, Serm. (ed. 7), vii. 126. The true child of God allows himself in no sin whatever.
1860. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. IX. v. 247. It refuses to allow itself in any violent or spasmodic passion.
10. intr. with of. To permit the occurrence or existence of, to admit of.
1732. Lediard, Sethos, II. IX. 290. His condition would not allow of his talking longer.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 97, ¶ 19. She tacitly allows of his future visits.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 27. 209. The snow … sufficiently compact to allow of a stake being firmly fixed in it.
IV. To allot, assign, bestow (Fr. allouer:—L. allocāre).
† 11. To assign to any one as his right or due; to accord. (With direct and indir. obj.) Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 77. On þe same asise serued & alowed Of alle þe franchise, þat it are was dowed.
1463. Mann. & Househ. Exps., 152. My mastyre alowyd hys fermour off Freffeld for otys … vs. xd.
1530. Palsgr., 421/1. I alowe him xiid. a day for his costes: je luy aloue douze deniers par jour pour ses despens.
1580. Baret, Alv., A 302. To alow or finde ones costes or expences, Sumptus alicui rei suggerere.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 303. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast; The Law allowes it, and the court awards it.
12. To give, or let any one have, as his share, or as appropriate to his needs. (Const. as in 11.)
c. 1370. Wyclif, Wks., 1880, 387. He alowid þe comonte her liflode.
1555. Fardle of Facions, II. viii. 173. A certaine of graine allowed them at the kinges allowance.
1696. Whiston, Th. Earth, IV. (1722), 320. In this Six Days’ Creation one entire Day is allow’d to the Formation of the Air.
1735. Pope, Hor. Ep., II. i. 193. Allow him but his plaything of a Pen.
1856. Brewster, Mart. Sci., II. iii. (ed. 3), 143. It was arranged that the Emperor should allow him 100 florins.
† 13. To give an allowance to (a person); to portion, endow. Obs.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Rew. honouring God. Those whom he … maintains in a handsome garb, allows largely.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 496, § 2. The Father who allows his Son to his utmost ability.
V. To admit or take into account.
† 14. To place to one’s credit in an account; to reckon, count to one. Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 2467. Alle the gud dedys that we haf done Onence our syns sal than sem fone; And yhit we er unsyker … Wether thai sal be alowed or noght.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xv. 6. Abram leuede to God, and it was alowid to hym to ryȝtwisnes.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., Allowyn yn rekenynge, Alloco.
1667. E. Chamberlayne, St. Gr. Brit., I. II. xiii. 12. They deliver the same attested for a lawful Tally to the Clerk of the Pipe to be allowed in the Great Roll.
† 15. Hence, To remit or deduct from the debit or the amount due or charged; to abate. Obs.
1501. in Bury Wills (1850), 91. I will that John Etoon haue alowyd iij li. to hym of the laste payment of mony that he owyth on to me.
1530. Palsgr., 420/2. I alowe or abate upon a reckenyng or accompte made.
16. gen. To make an addition or deduction, as the case may be, of (so much), on account of something requiring to be taken into consideration, though not formally appearing in the reckoning.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 87. In exchange of old lead for sheets new run, is allowed three shillings in every hundred weight for waste.
1756. Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., Wks. I. 18. It will therefore be very reasonable to allow on their account as much as added to the losses of the conqueror, may amount to a million of deaths.
Mod. You must allow an hour at least for time lost in changing trains, and waiting at stations.
17. To allow for: To allow what is right or fair, to make due allowance for; also fig. To bear in mind as a modifying or extenuating circumstance.
1702. Addison, Medals, III. (1727), 529 (J.). Allowing still for the different ways of making it.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, III. 48. If your Ladyship will not allow for me … what will become of me?
a. 1762. Lady M. Montague, Lett., lxxix. 131. I allow a great deal for the inconstancy of mankind.
Mod. To allow for expansion or shrinkage, for friction or the resistance of the air, for the increase of population since the census, for the place and circumstances of a speech, etc.
