I. 1-3 are ˈpa-t ə nt, chiefly Brit ˈpā-; 4 ˈpā-; 5 ˈpā-, ˈpa-; 6-7 ˈpa-, ˈpā-, Britain usually ˈpā- adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin patent-, patens, from present participle of patēre 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
II. ˈpa-t ə nt, Britain also ˈpā- noun
Date: 14th century
1. : an official document conferring a right or privilege : letters patent
2.
a. : a writing securing for a term of years the exclusive right to make, use, or sell an invention
b. : the monopoly or right so granted
c. : a patented invention
3. : privilege , license
4. : an instrument making a conveyance of public lands ; also : the land so conveyed
5. : patent leather
III. same as 2 transitive verb
Date: 1675
1. : to obtain or grant a patent right to
2. : to grant a privilege, right, or license to by patent
3. : to obtain or secure by patent ; especially : to secure by letters patent exclusive right to make, use, or sell
• pat·ent·abil·i·ty ˌpa-t ə n-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē, Britain also ˌpā- noun
• pat·ent·able ˈpa-t ə n-tə-bəl, Britain also ˈpā- adjective