patent

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An official right giving an inventor sole control over making and selling an invention for a set period.

   The company holds a patent on the new battery design.

2. 2
   verb

   To obtain a patent for an invention.

   He decided to patent his new device before showing it to investors.

3. 3
   noun

   Shiny, varnished leather used for shoes and accessories.

   She wore black patent shoes to the party.

The noun is derived from Middle English patent (“document granting an office, property, right, title, etc.; document granting permission, licence; papal indulgence, pardon”) [and other forms], which is either: * a clipping of lettre patent, lettres patente, lettres patentes [and other forms]; or * directly from Anglo-Norman and Middle French patente (modern French patent), a clipping of Anglo-Norman lettres patentes, Middle French lettres patentes, lettre patente, and Old French patentes lettres (“document granting an office, privilege, right, etc., or making a decree”) (compare Late Latin pat…

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