In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
PATRON
patron, frequenter
(noun) a regular customer
patron, sponsor, supporter
(noun) someone who supports or champions something
patron
(noun) the proprietor of an inn
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
patron (plural patrons)
One who protects or supports; a defender or advocate.
A guardian; synonym of patron saint.
An influential, wealthy person who supported an artist, craftsman, a scholar or a noble.
A customer, as of a certain store or restaurant.
(historical, Roman law) A protector of a dependent, especially a master who had freed a slave but still retained some paternal rights.
(UK, ecclesiastical) One who has gift and disposition of a benefice.
(nautical) A padrone.
(obsolete or historical) A property owner, a landlord, a master. (Compare patroon.)
Verb
patron (third-person singular simple present patrons, present participle patroning, simple past and past participle patroned)
(transitive, obsolete) To be a patron of; to patronize; to favour.
(transitive, obsolete) To treat as a patron.
Anagrams
• Parton, parton, tarpon
Source: Wiktionary
Pa"tron, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. patronus, fr. pater a father. See Paternal, and cf. Patroon, Padrone, Pattern.]
1. One who protects, supports, or countenances; a defender. "Patron of my life and liberty." Shak. "The patron of true holiness." Spenser.
2. (Rom. Antiq.) (a) A master who had freed his slave, but still retained some paternal rights over him. (b) A man of distinction under whose protection another person placed himself. (c) An advocate or pleader. Let him who works the client wrong Beware the patron's ire. Macaulay.
3. One who encourages or helps a person, a cause, or a work; a furtherer; a promoter; as, a patron of art.
4. (Eccl. Law)
Definition: One who has gift and disposition of a benefice. [Eng.]
5. A guardian saint.
– called also patron saint.
6. (Naut.)
Definition: See Padrone, 2. Patrons of Husbandry, the grangers. See Granger, 2.
Pa"tron, v. t.
Definition: To be a patron of; to patronize; to favor. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Pa"tron, a.
Definition: Doing the duty of a patron; giving aid or protection; tutelary. Dryden. Patron saint (R. C. Ch.), a saint regarded as the peculiar protector of a country, community, church, profession, etc., or of an individual.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
23 January 2025
LEFT
(adjective) being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north; “my left hand”; “left center field”; “the left bank of a river is bank on your left side when you are facing downstream”
Coffee Trivia
