Hypertext Webster Gateway: "patronize"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Patronize \Pa"tron*ize\, 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.
The idea has been patronized by two States only.
--A. Hamilton.
2. To trade with customarily; to frequent as a customer.
[Commercial Cant]
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
patronize
v 1: assume sponsorship of [syn: {sponsor}, {patronise}]
2: do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or
client of [syn: {patronise}, {shop}, {shop at}, {buy at},
{frequent}, {sponsor}] [ant: {boycott}, {boycott}]
3: treat condescendingly [syn: {patronise}, {condescend}]
4: be a regular customer or client of; "We patronize this
store"; "Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long
as he could" [syn: {patronise}, {patronage}, {support}, {keep
going}]
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