patron

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   One who protects or supports; a defender or advocate.

   patron of my life and liberty

2. 2
   noun

   A customer, as of a certain store or restaurant.

   This car park is for patrons only.

3. 3
   noun

   A property owner, a landlord, a master. (Compare patroon.)

   Half-a-dozen little boys carried it to the inn, where I had to explain to the patron, in my best Spanish, that we wanted a carriage to go to the baths, seven leagues off.

4. 4
   verb

   To be a patron of; to patronize; to favour.

   a good cause needs not to be patroned by passion

5. 5
   noun

   a regular customer

6. 6
   noun

   someone who supports or champions something

7. 7
   noun

   the proprietor of an inn

8. 8
   noun

   An influential, wealthy person who supported an artist, craftsman, a scholar or a noble.

Etymology

From Middle English patroun, patrone, from Old French patron, from Latin patrōnus, derived from pater (“father”). Doublet of padrone, Patronus, patroon, and pattern.