patient

[pey-shuhnt]

noun

1. a person who is under medical care or treatment.

   Synonyms: invalid

2. a person or thing that undergoes some action.

3. Archaic.,  a sufferer or victim.

adjective

1. bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.

   Synonyms: calm, passive, resigned, long-suffering, uncomplaining
   Antonyms: hostile

2. characterized by or expressing such a quality.

   a patient smile.

   Synonyms: composed, self-possessed, unexcited, unruffled, serene, quiet
   Antonyms: agitated, impatient

3. quietly and steadily persevering or diligent, especially in detail or exactness.

   a patient worker.

   Synonyms: assiduous, sedulous

4. undergoing the action of another (agent ).

patient

/ ˈpeɪʃənt /

adjective

1. enduring trying circumstances with even temper

2. tolerant; understanding

3. capable of accepting delay with equanimity

4. persevering or diligent

   a patient worker

5. archaic,  admitting of a certain interpretation

noun

1. a person who is receiving medical care

2. rare,  a person or thing that is the recipient of some action

Other Word Forms

• patientless adjective
• patiently adverb
• patientness noun
• overpatient adjective
• quasi-patient adjective
• quasi-patiently adverb
• superpatient adjective
• superpatiently adverb
• unpatient adjective
• unpatiently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of patient¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English adjective and noun pacient, from Middle French, from Latin patient-, stem of patiēns, present participle of patī “to undergo, suffer, bear”; -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of patient¹

C14: see _patience

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. patient of,

   1. having or showing the capacity for endurance.

      a man patient of distractions.

   2. susceptible of.

      This statement is patient of criticism.

Example Sentences

If two patients, for example, are delirious upon waking from surgery, they both need someone to sit by their bedsides, even as a third or fourth patient may need assistance walking to the toilet.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Dr. Cohen's laboratory has led the way in developing techniques that grow living brain cells from patient samples using induced pluripotent stem cell technology.

Read more on Science Daily

Over time, these conditions can greatly diminish quality of life and often leave patients dependent on continuous care.

Read more on Science Daily

He said: "The SNP are completely detached from the reality facing staff and patients across Scotland's NHS and have no real vision to fix the permanent crisis within the health service."

Read more on BBC

But others have argued that it would take scanning capacity away from patients being treated for other conditions.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• calm 
• forgiving 
• gentle 
• quiet 
• tolerant