patent

English

/ˈpeɪtənt/, /ˈpætənt/, /ˈpeɪtənt/

noun
Definitions
  • A declaration issued by a government agency declaring someone the inventor of a new invention and having the privilege of stopping others from making, using or selling the claimed invention; a letter patent.
  • A specific grant of ownership of a piece of property; a land patent.
  • License; formal permission.
  • patent Patent leather: a varnished, high-gloss leather typically used for shoes and accessories.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English patent derived from lettre patente (open letter) derived from Latin littera patens (open letter).

Origin

Latin

littera patens

Gloss

open letter

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms