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

Some older club patrons strode in with the aid of walking sticks, less agile than they used to be but determined to pay their respects to “Mama Jewel.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Saint Edgar of Alberta: patron saint of disciplined capital, guardian of dividends, protector of anyone smart enough to ignore cable news.

Read more on MarketWatch

And it is undeniably a pleasant novelty not to see patrons at the theater in cargo shorts and T-shirts that talk to you.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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.

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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