■ noun
1》 a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, etc.
↘a distinguished person who takes an honorary position in a charity.
2》 a customer of a restaurant, hotel, etc., especially a regular one.
3》 Brit., chiefly historical a person or institution with the right to grant a benefice to a member of the clergy.
4》 (in ancient Rome) a patrician in relation to a client.
↘the former owner of a freed slave.
Derivatives
~ess noun
Origin
ME: from OFr., from L. ~us 'protector of clients, defender', from pater , patr- 'father'.