licentiate

Late Latin licentiātus, from licentiō (“to allow to do something”).

• IPA^(key): /laɪˈsɛnʃiət/

licentiate (plural licentiates)

1. A person who holds the academic degree of license.
2. One who has a licence to exercise a profession.

   a licentiate in medicine or theology

   • 1779–81, Samuel Johnson, "Samuel Garth" in Lives of the Most Eminent English Poet

     The college of physicians, in July, 1687, published an edict, requiring all the fellows, candidates, and licentiates, to give gratuitous advice to the neighbouring poor.

3. A friar authorized to receive confessions and grant absolution in all places, independently of the local clergy.
   • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 218-220:

     [...] For he had power of confessioun,
     As seyde him-self, more than a curat,
     For of his ordre he was licentiat.

     [...] For he had power of confession,
     As he said himself, more than a parish priest,
     For he was licensed by his order.

4. One who acts without restraint, or takes a liberty.
   • 1640, Bishop Hall, Christian Moderation:

     a Licentiate of Paris takes upon him to defend

licentiāte

1. vocative masculine singular of licentiātus