patient
[pey-shuh nt]
- a person who is under medical care or treatment.
- a person or thing that undergoes some action.
- Archaic. a sufferer or victim.
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- bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.
- characterized by or expressing such a quality: a patient smile.
- quietly and steadily persevering or diligent, especially in detail or exactness: a patient worker.
- undergoing the action of another (opposed to agent).
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- patient of,
- having or showing the capacity for endurance: a man patient of distractions.
- susceptible of: This statement is patient of criticism.
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Origin of patient
1275–1325; Middle English pacient (adj. and noun) < Middle French < Latin patient- (stem of patiēns), present participle of patī to undergo, suffer, bear; see -ent
Synonyms
See more synonyms for patient on Thesaurus.com1. invalid. 4. uncomplaining, long-suffering, forbearing, resigned, passive, calm. 5. quiet, serene, unruffled, unexcited, self-possessed, composed. 6. sedulous, assiduous, untiring.
Antonyms
4. hostile. 5. impatient, agitated.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for patient
Contemporary Examples
Doctors are prohibited from doing what a patient needs by rigid practice guidelines.
This not only defrauds the state out of thousands of dollars, but also deprives the patient who needs the drugs.
Within days of the first symptom, a headache, the patient was fighting for his life.
No trained medical provider could possibly expect to nourish a patient this way.
‘Rectal Feeding’ Has Nothing to Do with Nutrition, Everything to Do with TortureRussell Saunders
December 10, 2014
Emergent procedures provide their benefit right away and have the awesome potential to rescue a patient from the brink of death.
Historical Examples
Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people?
His face had a patient, expectant look, as if he waited for them to do something.
Life and Death of Harriett FreanMay Sinclair
"I feel my patient growing better," the doctor said, with satisfaction.
Ester Ried Yet SpeakingIsabella Alden
Vice was like hysterics—the more kindness you showed the worse grew the patient!
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
The young man tried to be patient over her density in this time of crisis.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
patient
- enduring trying circumstances with even temper
- tolerant; understanding
- capable of accepting delay with equanimity
- persevering or diligenta patient worker
- archaic admitting of a certain interpretation
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- a person who is receiving medical care
- rare a person or thing that is the recipient of some action
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Word Origin
C14: see patience
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for patient
adj.
mid-14c., "enduring without complaint," from Old French pacient and directly from Latin patientem (see patience). Related: Patiently.
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n.
"suffering or sick person under medical treatment," late 14c., from Old French pacient (n.), from the adjective, from Latin patientem (see patience).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
patient
(pā′shənt)- One who receives medical attention, care, or treatment.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.