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