patron saint

3 definitions found

patron saint - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Patron \Pa"tron\, n. [F., fr. L. patronus, fr. pater a father.
     See Paternal, and cf. Patroon, Padrone, Pattern.]
     1. One who protects, supports, or countenances; a defender.
        "Patron of my life and liberty." --Shak. "The patron of
        true holiness." --Spenser.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Rom. Antiq.)
        (a) A master who had freed his slave, but still retained
            some paternal rights over him.
        (b) A man of distinction under whose protection another
            person placed himself.
        (c) An advocate or pleader.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Let him who works the client wrong
                  Beware the patron's ire.          --Macaulay.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     3. One who encourages or helps a person, a cause, or a work;
        a furtherer; a promoter; as, a patron of art.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Eccl. Law) One who has gift and disposition of a
        benefice. [Eng.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. A guardian saint. -- called also patron saint.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Naut.) See Padrone, 2.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Patrons of Husbandry, the grangers. See Granger, 2.
        [1913 Webster]

  Patron \Pa"tron\, a.
     Doing the duty of a patron; giving aid or protection;
     tutelary. --Dryden.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Patron saint (R. C. Ch.), a saint regarded as the peculiar
        protector of a country, community, church, profession,
        etc., or of an individual.
        [1913 Webster]

patron saint - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  patron saint
      n 1: a saint who is considered to be a defender of some group or
           nation