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patent
[ pat-nt or, for 10, 12-15, peyt-; especially British peyt-nt ]
/ ˈpæt nt or, for 10, 12-15, ˈpeɪt-; especially British ˈpeɪt nt /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
adjective pa·tent [peyt-nt] /ˈpeɪt nt/ (for 10, 12-15)
verb (used with object)
OTHER WORDS FOR patent
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Origin of patent
First recorded in 1250–1300; (adjective) Middle English, from Latin patent- (stem of patēns ) “open,” present participle of patēre “to stand open, lie open”; (noun) Middle English, short for letters patent, translation of Medieval Latin litterae patentēs “open letters”
synonym study for patent
10. See apparent.
OTHER WORDS FROM patent
Words nearby patent
patellate, patelliform, paten, patency, Patenier, patent, patent ambiguity, patent cliff, patentee, patent fastener, patent flour
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use patent in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for patent
patent
/ (ˈpætənt, ˈpeɪtənt) /
noun
adjective
verb (tr)
Derived forms of patent
patentable, adjectivepatentability, nounWord Origin for patent
C14: via Old French from Latin patēre to lie open; n use, short for letters patent, from Medieval Latin litterae patentes letters lying open (to public inspection)
usage for patent
The pronunciation (ˈpætənt) is heard in letters patent and Patent Office and is the usual US pronunciation for all senses. In Britain (ˈpætənt) is sometimes heard for senses 1, 2 and 3, but (ˈpeɪtənt) is commoner and is regularly used in collocations like patent leather
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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