Permit lent it legitimacy in part (7)

I believe the answer is:

entitle

'permit' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'lent it legitimacy in part' is the wordplay.
'in part' indicates a hidden word.
'ENTITLE' is hidden within 'lent it legitimacy'.

(Other definitions for entitle that I've seen before include "Warrant" , "confer rank" , "Call; permit" , "Give (someone) rights" , "Allow" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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