Hypertext Webster Gateway: "patron"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Patron \Pa"tron\, 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.
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) One who has gift and disposition of a
benefice. [Eng.]
5. A guardian saint. -- called also {patron saint}.
6. (Naut.) See {Padrone}, 2.
{Patrons of Husbandry}, the grangers. See {Granger}, 2.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Patron \Pa"tron\, v. t.
To be a patron of; to patronize; to favor. [Obs.] --Sir T.
Browne.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Patron \Pa"tron\, a.
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
patron
n 1: a regular customer [syn: {frequenter}]
2: (Italian) the proprietor of an inn [syn: {patronne}]
3: someone who supports or champions something [syn: {sponsor},
{supporter}]
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