letters patent

American  

plural noun

Law.

1. a written or printed instrument issued by a sovereign power, conferring upon a patentee some right, as the exclusive right to land or the exclusive right to make, use, and sell an invention for a limited time.

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letters patent British  

plural noun

1. See patent

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Etymology

Origin of letters patent

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

letters patent

She presented the letters patent to the mayor which marked the moment the town became the 76th city of the UK.

From BBC ● Nov. 23, 2022

Upon the issue of the letters patent, an open document from the Queen conferring a patent or other right, Southend will become the 52nd city in England and the second in Essex, alongside Chelmsford.

From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2022

Your status, and any design ideas you submit, will be reviewed and if approved, you will be granted a letters patent by the most senior herald, the Kings of Arms.

From BBC ● May 30, 2017

As the week drew to a close, His Majesty's Lord Chamberlain and the Home Secretary busied themselves preparing letters patent proclaiming Philip a Duke and a Royal Highness.

From Time Magazine Archive

This morning we commanded you to prepare with our high chancellor the letters patent which will give you the rank of Duke and Governor of Valencia.

From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol IV. No. XX. January, 1852. by Various