- entitle
- late 14c., "to give a title to a chapter, book, etc.," from Anglo-Fr. entitler, from O.Fr. entiteler, from L.L. intitulare, from in "in" + titulus "title" (see title). Meaning "to bestow (on a person) a rank or office" is mid-15c. Sense of "to give (someone) 'title' to an estate or property," hence to give that person a claim to possession or privilege, is mid-15c.; this now is used mostly in reference to circumstances and actions.