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One who protects, supports, or countenances; a defender. "Patron of my life and liberty." Shak. "The patron of true holiness." Spenser.

tenance or support; favor, encouragement, or aid, afforded to a person or a work; as, the patronage of letters; patronage given to an author.

Patron; protecting; favoring. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

The right or duty of a patron; patronage. [R.] Westm. Rev.

A female patron or helper. Spenser. Night, best patroness of grief. Milton.

The act of patronizing; patronage; support. [R.]

To act as patron toward; to support; to countenance; to favor; to aid. The idea has been patronized by two States only. A. Hamilton.

One who patronizes.

Showing condescending favor; assuming the manner of airs of a superior toward another. -- Pat"ron*i`zing*ly, adv. Thackeray.

Destitute of a patron.

That branch of knowledge which deals with personal names and their origin; the study of patronymics.

Derived from ancestors; as, a patronymic denomination.

Same as Patronymic.

To act the part of a patron towards; to patronize. [Obs.] Shak.

Absolute seignory or possession; the act of investing with such possession. [R.] Cotgrave.

To make lord or master; as, to impatronize one's self of a seigniory. [R.] Bacon.

To transfer the patronage of. [Obs.] Warner.

f presenting to a vacant benefice or living in the church. [Originally, the relation of a patron (advocatus) or protector of a benefice, and thus privileged to nominate or present to it.]

, King of Castile (1252- 1284). Alphonsine tables, astronomical tables prepared under the patronage of Alphonso the Wise. Whewell.

A chief. [Obs.] My worthy arch and patron comes to-night. Shak.