to permit
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to permit
To give someone permission for something; to allow or make something possible. It is a formal and polite way to say 'erlauben' (to allow).
Gestatten Sie mir bitte, Ihnen eine persönliche Frage zu stellen.
Please permit me to ask you a personal question.
Permit me, ...
A very formal and somewhat old-fashioned phrase used to introduce oneself.
Gestatten, mein Name ist Schmidt, ich bin der neue Abteilungsleiter.
Permit me, my name is Schmidt; I am the new department head.
to allow oneself
To allow oneself something, often a small pleasure, a joke, or an action one normally would not do.
Er konnte sich den kleinen Scherz nicht gestatten, da die Situation zu ernst war.
He could not allow himself the little joke, since the situation was too serious.
'Gestatten' is a very formal and polite variant of 'erlauben' (to allow). It is used mainly in written language, in official situations, or when you want to be especially respectful.
Gestatten Sie die Bemerkung, dass Ihr Vortrag ausgezeichnet war.
Permit me the remark that your lecture was excellent.
The verb 'gestatten' is typically constructed with a person in the dative and a thing in the accusative. The structure is: jemandem (dative) etwas (accusative) gestatten.
Der Chef gestattete dem Mitarbeiter einen freien Tag.
The boss granted the employee a day off.
When the permitted action is a verb, the construction 'jemandem gestatten, etwas zu tun' (to permit someone to do something) is used. The infinitive clause with 'zu' follows after a comma.
Die Eltern gestatteten ihrer Tochter, am Wochenende länger aufzubleiben.
The parents permitted their daughter to stay up later on the weekend.
The phrase 'Gestatten, [Name]' is a shortened form of 'Gestatten Sie, dass ich mich vorstelle?' (May I introduce myself?). It is used as a polite but somewhat old-fashioned way of introducing oneself.
Er reichte ihr die Hand und sagte: „Gestatten, mein Name ist Bond.“
He held out his hand to her and said, "Permit me, my name is Bond."
In the reflexive form 'sich etwas gestatten' (to allow oneself something), the reflexive pronoun is always in the dative. The structure is: sich (dative) etwas (accusative) gestatten.
Nach der harten Arbeitswoche gestatte ich mir ein entspannendes Bad.
After the hard workweek, I allow myself a relaxing bath.
to allow
Erlauben and gestatten can both express that someone is allowed to do something. Erlauben is much more common and neutral in everyday use, while gestatten sounds more formal and often more distant. Use erlauben in normal conversation and gestatten in official or especially polite wording.
Der Museumsleiter gestattet den Gästen, im Lesesaal Notizen zu machen.
The museum director permits visitors to take notes in the reading room.
Meine Nachbarin erlaubt mir, ihr Fahrrad kurz zu benutzen.
My neighbor allows me to use her bicycle for a little while.
