1. A letter patent, or letters patent; an official document, issued by a sovereign power, conferring a right
or privilege on some person or party. Specifically: (a) A writing securing to an invention. (b) A document
making a grant and conveyance of public lands.
Four other gentlemen of quality remained mentioned in that patent.
Fuller. In the United States, by the act of 1870, patents for inventions are issued for seventeen years, without
the privilege of renewal except by act of Congress.
2. The right or privilege conferred by such a document; hence, figuratively, a right, privilege, or license of
the nature of a patent.
If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend.
Shak. Patent
(Pat"ent), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Patented; p. pr. & vb. n. Patenting.] To grant by patent; to make
the subject of a patent; to secure or protect by patent; as, to patent an invention; to patent public lands.
Patentable
(Pat"ent*a*ble) a. Suitable to be patented; capable of being patented.
Patentee
(Pat`ent*ee") n. One to whom a grant is made, or a privilege secured, by patent. Bacon.
Patent-hammered
(Pat"ent-ham"mered) a. (Stone Cutting) Having a surface dressed by cutting with a
hammer the head of which consists of broad thin chisels clamped together.
Patently
(Pat"ent*ly) adv. Openly; evidently.
Patera
(||Pat"e*ra) n.; pl. Pateræ [ L., fr. patere to lie open.]
1. A saucerlike vessel of earthenware or metal, used by the Greeks and Romans in libations and sacrificies.
2. (Arch.) A circular ornament, resembling a dish, often worked in relief on friezes, and the like.
Paterero
(Pat`e*re"ro) n. See Pederero. [Obs.]
Paterfamilias
(||Pa`ter*fa*mil`i*as) n.; pl. Pateresfamilias [L., fr. pater father + familias, gen. of familia
family.] (Rom. Law) The head of a family; in a large sense, the proprietor of an estate; one who is his
own master.
Paternal
(Pa*ter"nal) a. [L. paternus, fr. pater a father: cf. F. paternel. See Father.]
1. Of or pertaining to a father; fatherly; showing the disposition of a father; guiding or instructing as a
father; as, paternal care. "Under paternal rule." Milton.
2. Received or derived from a father; hereditary; as, a paternal estate.
Their small paternal field of corn.
Dryden. Paternal government (Polit. Science), the assumption by the governing power of a quasi-fatherly
relation to the people, involving strict and intimate supervision of their business and social concerns,
upon the theory that they are incapable of managing their own afffairs.
Paternalism
(Pa*ter"nal*ism) n. (Polit. Science) The theory or practice of paternal government. See
Paternal government, under Paternal. London Times.
Paternally
(Pa*ter"nal*ly), adv. In a paternal manner.
Paternity
(Pa*ter"ni*ty) n. [L. paternitas: cf. F. paternité. See Paternal.]
