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Entry 8 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Patron

/pāt'-rən/ · Pa·tron · IPA /ˈpeɪ.tɹən/
01 n. One who protects, supports, or countenances; a defender.
  1. 1.
    One who protects, supports, or countenances; a defender.
  2. 2.
    A master who had freed his slave, but still retained some paternal rights over him.(Rom. Antiq.)
    “Let him who works the client wrong Beware the patron's ire.” — Macaulay.
  3. 3.
    One who encourages or helps a person, a cause, or a work; a furtherer; a promoter; as, a patron of art.
  4. 4.
    One who has gift and disposition of a benefice.(Eccl. Law) [Eng.]
  5. 5.
    A guardian saint. -- called also patron saint. Also: patron saint
  6. 6.
    See Padrone, 2.(Naut.) See: Padrone
Phrases & compounds
Patrons of Husbandry — the grangers. See Granger, 2.
02 v. t. To be a patron of; to patronize; to favor.
  1. 1.
    To be a patron of; to patronize; to favor.[Obs.]
03 a. Doing the duty of a patron; giving aid or protection; tutelary.
  1. 1.
    Doing the duty of a patron; giving aid or protection; tutelary.
Phrases & compounds
Patron saint — a saint regarded as the peculiar protector of a country, community, church, profession, etc., or of an individual.