n., adj., & v.
--n.
1. a government authority to an individual or organization conferring a right or title, esp. the sole right to make or use or sell some invention.
2 a document granting this authority.
3 an invention or process protected by it.
--adj.
1. obvious, plain.
2 conferred or protected by patent.
3 a made and marketed under a patent; proprietary. b to which one has a proprietary claim.
4 such as might be patented; ingenious, well-contrived.
5 (of an opening etc.) allowing free passage.
--v.tr. obtain a patent for (an invention).
Phrases and idioms:
letters patent an open document from a sovereign or government conferring a patent or other right. patent leather leather with a glossy varnished surface. patent medicine medicine made and marketed under a patent and available without prescription. patent office an office from which patents are issued. Patent Roll (in the UK) a list of patents issued in a year.
Derivatives:
patency n. patentable adj. patently adv. (in sense 1 of adj.).
Etymology: ME f. OF patent and L patere lie open