Etymology Dictionary

ALLOW (1),  to assign, grant as a portion or allowance.  (F.,—L.)   1. Not to be confused with allow in the sense of 'to approve of,' 'to praise,' which is the common sense in old writers; see Luke, xi. 48.   Shakespeare has both verbs, and the senses run into one another so that it is not always easy to distinguish between them in every case.   Perhaps a good instance is in the Merch. of Ven. iv. 1. 302, 'the law allows it,' i.e. assigns it to you.   2. This verb is not in early use, and Shakespeare is one of the earliest authorities for it.—F. allouer, formerly alouer, 'to let out to hire, to appoint or set down a proportion for expence, or for any other employment;' Cot.—Law Lat. allocare, to admit a thing as proved, to place, to use, expend, consume; see Ducange.   [Blount, in his Law Dict., gives allocation as a term used in the exchequer to signify 'an allowance made upon an account.'   See Allocate.]   Der. allow-able, allow-able-ness, allow-abl-y, allow-ance.   Doublet, allocate.

ALLOW (2),  to praise, highly approve of.  (F.,—L.)   Sometimes confused with the preceding; now nearly obsolete, though common in early authors, and of much earlier use than the former.   See Luke, xi. 48.   M.E. alouen.   Chaucer rimes 'I aloue the' = I praise thee, with the sb. youthè, youth; C.T. 10988.—O.F. alouer, later allouer, 'to allow, advow [i.e. advocate], to approve, like well of;' Cot.—Lat. allaudare, adlaudare, to applaud.—Lat. ad, to; and laudare, to praise.   See Laud.