*patron*

n. Absolute seignory or possession; the act of investing with such possession. [ R. ] Cotgrave. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Impatronized p. pr. & vb. n. Impatronizing ] To make lord or master; as, to impatronize one's self of a seigniory. [ R. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let him who works the client wrong
Beware the patron's ire. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who encourages or helps a person, a cause, or a work; a furtherer; a promoter; as, a patron of art. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Eccl. Law) One who has gift and disposition of a benefice. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A guardian saint. -- called also patron saint. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Naut.) See Padrone, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Patrons of Husbandry, the grangers. See Granger, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To be a patron of; to patronize; to favor. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Doing the duty of a patron; giving aid or protection; tutelary. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Patron saint (R. C. Ch.), a saint regarded as the peculiar protector of a country, community, church, profession, etc., or of an individual. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To act as a patron of; to maintain; to defend. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. patronage. Cf. LL. patronaticum, and L. patronatus. ] 1. Special countenance or support; favor, encouragement, or aid, afforded to a person or a work; as, the patronage of letters; patronage given to an author. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Business custom. [ Commercial Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Guardianship, as of a saint; tutelary care. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The right of nomination to political office; also, the offices, contracts, honors, etc., which a public officer may bestow by favor. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Eng. Law) The right of presentation to church or ecclesiastical benefice; advowson. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. patronalis; cf. F. patronal. ] Patron; protecting; favoring. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. patronatus. ] The right or duty of a patron; patronage. [ R. ] Westm. Rev. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. patronnesse. ] A female patron or helper. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Night, best patroness of grief. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of patronizing; patronage; support. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Patronized p. pr. & vb. n. Patronizing ] 1. To act as patron toward; to support; to countenance; to favor; to aid. [ 1913 Webster ]

The idea has been patronized by two States only. A. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To trade with customarily; to frequent as a customer. [ Commercial Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To assume the air of a patron, or of a superior and protector, toward; -- used in an unfavorable sense; as, to patronize one's equals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who patronizes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Showing condescending favor; assuming the manner of airs of a superior toward another. -- Pat"ron*i`zing*ly, adv. Thackeray. [1913 Webster]

a. Destitute of a patron. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. path`r, patro`s, a father + E. onomatology. ] That branch of knowledge which deals with personal names and their origin; the study of patronymics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. patrwnymiko`n. ] A modification of the father's name borne by the son; a name derived from that of a parent or ancestor; as, Pelides, the son of Peleus; Johnson, the son of John; Macdonald, the son of Donald; Paulowitz, the son of Paul; also, the surname of a family; the family name. M. A. Lower. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In Russia, the patronymic is taken routinely as a middle name, and is commonly used together with the given name in addressing people with whom one is familiar, thus Ivan Ivanovich would be commonly used to address Ivan, whose father was Ivan; likewise Boris Michaelovich would address Boris the son of Michael, and Lena Ivanova would address Lena, the daughter of Ivan. [ PJC ]

a. [ L. patronymicus, Gr. patrwnymiko`s; path`r father + 'o`noma name: cf. F. patronymique. ] Derived from ancestors; as, a patronymic denomination. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Same as Patronymic. [ 1913 Webster ]