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patent
- Main Entry:
- 1pat·ent
- Pronunciation:
-
\1–3 are ˈpa-tənt, 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
— pat·ent·ly adverb
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