Latin

in-

in, into, on, upon

Forms

in-
im- — Used before b, m, or p in Latin.
il- — Used before l in Latin.
ir- — Used before r in Latin.
en- — Developed in French in some words later borrowed into English.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *en, ‘in.’

Note

Identical spellings can hide two different prefixes: this one indicates position or direction, while the other means ‘not.’

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verb

entitle

in-TYE-tul/ɪnˈtaɪtl/

Give someone a right or claim to something.

Your membership entitles you to free admission at this museum.

Wheelchair user presents a plain admission pass and usher opens accessible entry gate to welcome them; official permission conveyed with gesture, no text.

Etymology

enLatinin, into, on, upon

+titleLatininscription, title

The pieces first expressed giving something a title or name. Giving someone title to property then meant granting a legal claim, which broadened into giving a right or privilege.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain60:51

the law can create sever classes of citizens and even assign the qualifications which shall entitle them to rank in these classes

1700s Philosophy Audiobook • Jean-Jacques Rousseau - The Social Contract

More examples

The contract entitles employees to two weeks of paid vacation.
Each ticket entitles one person to enter.
This receipt does not entitle you to a refund.

Forms

entitle · entitles · entitled · entitling

entitlement noun — A right to receive or claim something.

Similar words

qualify: Qualify emphasizes meeting requirements rather than receiving a right.
authorize: Authorize gives permission to act rather than a claim.