I. ˈpāshənt adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English pacient, from Middle French patient, pacient, from Latin patient-, patiens, from present participle of pati to suffer; akin to Latin paene almost, penuria want, need, Greek pēma suffering, calamity, Sanskrit pāpman want, need
1. : bearing pains or trials calmly or uncomplainingly : exhibiting power to endure hardship or physical or mental distress
love is patient and kind … love bears all things — 1 Cor 13:4-7 (Revised Standard Version)
2. : manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain : lenient to the shortcomings or offenses of others : long-suffering
is an orator of great power and persuasiveness; and the most reasonable and patient negotiator — T.S.Steele
a patient teacher
3. : exhibiting deliberation or restraint : calm in expectation : not hasty or impetuous
he had been marvelously patient and discreet, and he had been miraculously bold — John Buchan
that means a lot of patient discussion and consultation — High Gaitskell
4. : steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity : undaunted
the flint miner extracted his stone, and by patient effort shaped it to his needs — Lewis Mumford
5. : able or willing to bear : enduring — used with of
patient of misrepresentations — Current Biography
6. : susceptible , admitting — used with of
this passage seems to be patient of only one interpretation — C.T.Onions
7. archaic : acted upon rather than acting : passive — opposed to agent
• pa·tient·ly adverb
• pa·tient·ness noun -es
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English pacient, from Middle French pacient, patient, from pacient, patient, adjective
1. archaic : one that suffers, endures, or is victimized
2.
a.
(1) : a sick individual especially when awaiting or under the care and treatment of a physician or surgeon
the hospital is equipped to handle 500 patients
(2) : a client for medical service (as of a physican or dentist)
a good practice with a large number of patients
b.
(1) : the recipient of any of various personal services (as cosmetic care) : customer , patron
found the beauty shop filled with patients
(2) : a hypnotist's subject
3. : one that is subjected to action or external force — opposed to agent
are agents as well as patients and observers in the world — C.H.Whiteley
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: patient (I)
obsolete : to make patient : compose , calm