Definition of entitle

The word "entitle" has its roots in Latin. The Latin verb "titulus" means "title" or "heading", and the verb "entitulari" is the passive participle of "titulari", which means "to be called" or "to have a title". This participle was later adapted into Middle English as "entitelen", and eventually evolved into the modern English verb "entitle". In the 14th century, "entitle" meant "to give a title to" or "to name", and it was often used in the context of literature, such as giving a title to a work. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include the sense of "to give a claim to" or "to justify", as in "the book entitles me to free admission". Today, "entitle" is widely used in contexts such as employment, education, and literature, to refer to the process of granting someone a right or privilege, or to justify or legitimize a claim or assertion.