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Definition of patrons - 2 dictionary results
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pa⋅tron

  [pey-truhn]
Use patrons in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person who is a customer, client, or paying guest, esp. 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.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME < ML, L patrōnus legal protector, advocate (ML: lord, master), der. of pater father. See pattern

Related forms:
pa⋅tron⋅al, pa⋅tron⋅ly, adjective
pa⋅tron⋅dom, pa⋅tron⋅ship, noun
pa⋅tron⋅less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To patrons
pa·tron   (pā'trən)   
n.  
  1. One that supports, protects, or champions someone or something, such as an institution, event, or cause; a sponsor or benefactor: a patron of the arts.
  2. A customer, especially a regular customer.
  3. also (pä-trōn') The owner or manager of an establishment, especially a restaurant or an inn of France or Spain.
    1. A noble or wealthy person in ancient Rome who granted favor and protection to someone in exchange for certain services.
    2. A slave owner in ancient Rome who freed a slave without relinquishing all legal claim to him.
  5. One who possesses the right to grant an ecclesiastical benefice to a member of the clergy.
  6. A patron saint.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin patrōnus, from Latin, from pater, patr-, father; see pəter- in Indo-European roots.]
pa'tron·al (pā'trə-nəl) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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