— patronal, patronly , adj. — patrondom, patronship , n. — patronless , adj.
/pay"treuhn/ , n.
1. a person who is a customer, client, or paying guest, esp. a regular one, of a store, hotel, or the like.
2. a person who supports with money, gifts, efforts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum, cause, charity, institution, special event, or the like: a patron of the arts; patrons of the annual Democratic dance.
3. a person whose support or protection is solicited or acknowledged by the dedication of a book or other work.
4. See patron saint .
5. Rom. Hist. the protector of a dependent or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him.
6. Eccles. a person who has the right of presenting a member of the clergy to a benefice.
[ 1250-1300; ME patronus legal protector, advocate (ML: lord, master), der. of pater FATHER. See PATTERN ]