1. The formula (= ‘let it be printed’), signed by an official licenser of the press, authorizing the printing of a book; hence as n. an official license to print.
Now (in Great Britain and U.S.) only in works officially sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church.
2. fig. Commendatory license, sanction.
3. Used confusedly = imprint n. 3
Such a fun and useful word. It's no longer easily recognizable because the original sense hasn't been needed in English-speaking countries for years and years. It's similar in that regard to "ukase"; another wonderful word that our open, free society doesn't provide too many opportunities to employ.
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