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

Related Words

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