ˈpad.ənə, -atə-, -at ə nə, pəˈtēnə noun
( plural patinas or pati·nae -ˌnē, - ə nˌē)
Etymology: in sense 1, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, shallow dish; in other senses, New Latin, from Latin — more at paten
1. : a eucharistic paten
2. : a usually green film that is formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure especially to a moist atmosphere or artificially (as by treatment with acids), that is a basic salt (as a carbonate) of copper protecting the metal from further oxidation, and that is often valued aesthetically for its color
3. : a surface appearance (as a coloring or mellowing) of something grown beautiful especially with age or use
patina is to sterling what character is to a fine face — Sarah T. Lee
4. : a finish or coloration derived from association, habit, or established character : the look acquired from long custom or settled use
a patina of laughter wrinkles around his eyes — H.W.Baldwin
those old moments have acquired a patina of value — J.J.Godwin
takes on for a time the patina of the international set — Newsweek
it is only I who have coated them with the patina of my own childhood happiness — Helen Howe