patron

¹

[pey-truhn]

noun

1. a person who is a customer, client, or paying guest, especially a regular one, of a store, hotel, or the like.

2. a person who supports with money, gifts, efforts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum, cause, charity, institution, special event, or the like.

   a patron of the arts; patrons of the annual Democratic dance.

3. a person whose support or protection is solicited or acknowledged by the dedication of a book or other work.

4. patron saint.

5. Roman History.,  the protector of a dependent or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him.

6. Ecclesiastical.,  a person who has the right of presenting a member of the clergy to a benefice.

patrón

²

[pah-trawn]

noun

Spanish.

plural

patrones 

1. (in Mexico and the southwestern U.S.) a boss; employer.

patron

¹

/ ˈpeɪtrən, pəˈtrəʊnəl /

noun

1. a person, esp a man, who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor

2. a customer of a shop, hotel, etc, esp a regular one

3. See patron saint

4. (in ancient Rome) the protector of a dependant or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him

5. Christianity a person or body having the right to present a clergyman to a benefice

patron

²

/ patrɔ̃ /

noun

1. a man, who owns or manages a hotel, restaurant, or bar

patron

³

/ ˈpætərn /

noun

1. a variant spelling of pattern 2

Other Word Forms

• patronal adjective
• patronly adjective
• patrondom noun
• patronship noun
• patronless adjective
• subpatronal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of patron¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Medieval Latin, Latin patrōnus “legal protector, advocate” ( Medieval Latin: “lord, master”), derivative of pater “father”; pattern

Origin of patron²

First recorded in 1860–65; from Spanish; patron ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of patron¹

C14: via Old French from Latin patrōnus protector, from pater father

Example Sentences

Beneath a portrait of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and patron of the prizes, the committee convenes on Monday morning, four days before announcing the winner.

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Disneyland officials confirmed Wednesday that the patron required medical treatment and was transported to a hospital, but did not provide further details.

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Watching Sasaki pitch the final inning of a two-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds in their National League wild-card series, the patrons at Dodger Stadium at once recognized the novelty of his act.

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The complaint alleges that the Rose Bowl failed to employ sufficient security personnel to provide for the reasonable safety of its patrons during the Australian electronic music trio’s sold out event.

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He studied History and Journalism at Sheffield University and is patron of the Sheffield Children's Hospital.

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Related Words

• advocate 
• backer 
• benefactor 
• fan 
• friend 
• leader 
• philanthropist 
• sponsor 
• supporter 
• well-wisher