Main Entry:

¹pat·ent

Pronunciation:

\1–3 are ˈpa-t^ənt, chiefly British ˈpā-; 4 ˈpā-; 5 ˈpā-, ˈpa-; 6–7 ˈpa-, ˈpā-, British usually ˈpā-\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin patent-, patens, from present participle of patēre to be open — more at fathom

Date:

14th century

1 a: open to public inspection —used chiefly in the phrase letters patent b (1): secured by letters patent or by a patent to the exclusive control and possession of a particular individual or party (2): protected by a patent : made under a patent <patent locks> c: protected by a trademark or a brand name so as to establish proprietary rights analogous to those conveyed by letters patent or a patent : proprietary <patent drugs>2: of, relating to, or concerned with the granting of patents especially for inventions <a patent lawyer>3: making exclusive or proprietary claims or pretensions4: affording free passage : unobstructed <a patent opening>5: patulous, spreading <a patent calyx>6archaic : accessible, exposed7: readily visible or intelligible : obvious

synonyms see evident

— pat·ent·ly adverb