n.
Pronunciation: 1-3 are ' pa-t ə nt, chiefly Brit ' p ā -; 4 ' p ā -; 5 ' p ā -, ' pa-; 6-7 ' pa-, ' p ā -, Brit usu ' p ā -
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin patent-, patens, from present participle of pat ē re to be open ― more at FATHOM
Date: 14th century
1 a : open to public inspection ― used chiefly in the phrase letters patent b (1) : secured by letters patent or by a patent to the exclusive control and possession of a particular individual or party (2) : protected by a patent : made under a patent < patent locks> c : protected by a trademark or a brand name so as to establish proprietary rights analogous to those conveyed by letters patent or a patent : PROPRIETARY < patent drugs>
2 : of, relating to, or concerned with the granting of patents especially for inventions <a patent lawyer>
3 : making exclusive or proprietary claims or pretensions
4 : affording free passage : UNOBSTRUCTED <a patent opening>
5 : PATULOUS , SPREADING <a patent calyx>
6 archaic : ACCESSIBLE , EXPOSED
7 : readily visible or intelligible : OBVIOUS
synonyms see EVIDENT
– pat · ent · ly adverb