PATENT

adj a writing securing to an invention.

2. patent ·adj a document making a grant and conveyance of public lands.

3. patent ·adj open; expanded; evident; apparent; unconcealed; manifest; public; conspicuous.

4. patent ·adj spreading; forming a nearly right angle with the steam or branch; as, a patent leaf.

5. patent ·adj the right or privilege conferred by such a document; hence, figuratively, a right, privilege, or license of the nature of a patent.

6. patent ·adj open to public perusal;

— said of a document conferring some right or privilege; as, letters patent. ·see letters patent, under 3d letter.

7. patent ·vt to grant by patent; to make the subject of a patent; to secure or protect by patent; as, to patent an invention; to patent public lands.

8. patent ·adj a letter patent, or letters patent; an official document, issued by a sovereign power, conferring a right or privilege on some person or party.

9. patent ·adj appropriated or protected by letters patent; secured by official authority to the exclusive possession, control, and disposal of some person or party; patented; as, a patent right; patent medicines.