4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Patent  \Pat"ent\  (p[a^]t"ent  or  p[=a]t"ent),  a.  [L.  patens, 
  -entis,  p.  pr  of  patere  to  be  open:  cf  F.  patent.  Cf 
  {Fathom}.] 
  1. 
 
  Note:  (Oftener  pronounced  p[=a]t"ent  in  this  sense)  Open 
  expanded;  evident;  apparent;  unconcealed;  manifest; 
  public;  conspicuous. 
 
  He  had  received  instructions,  both  patent  and 
  secret.  --Motley. 
 
  2.  Open  to  public  perusal;  --  said  of  a  document  conferring 
  some  right  or  privilege;  as  letters  patent.  See  {Letters 
  patent},  under  3d  {Letter}. 
 
  3.  Appropriated  or  protected  by  letters  patent;  secured  by 
  official  authority  to  the  exclusive  possession,  control, 
  and  disposal  of  some  person  or  party;  patented;  as  a 
  patent  right  patent  medicines. 
 
  Madder  .  .  .  in  King  Charles  the  First's  time,  was 
  made  a  patent  commodity.  --Mortimer. 
 
  4.  (Bot.)  Spreading;  forming  a  nearly  right  angle  with  the 
  steam  or  branch;  as  a  patent  leaf. 
 
  {Patent  leather},  a  varnished  or  lacquered  leather,  used  for 
  boots  and  shoes,  and  in  carriage  and  harness  work 
 
  {Patent  office},  a  government  bureau  for  the  examination  of 
  inventions  and  the  granting  of  patents. 
 
  {Patent  right}. 
  a  The  exclusive  right  to  an  invention,  and  the  control 
  of  its  manufacture. 
  b  (Law)  The  right  granted  by  the  sovereign,  of 
  exclusive  control  of  some  business  of  manufacture,  or 
  of  the  sale  of  certain  articles,  or  of  certain  offices 
  or  prerogatives. 
 
  {Patent  rolls},  the  registers,  or  records,  of  patents. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Patent  \Pat"ent\,  n.  [Cf.  F.  patente.  See  {Patent},  a.] 
  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. 
 
  Note:  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  patent 
  adj  :  clearly  apparent  or  obvious  to  the  mind  or  senses  "the 
  effects  of  the  drought  are  apparent  to  anyone  who  sees 
  the  parched  fields";  "evident  hostility";  "manifest 
  disapproval";  "patent  advantages";  "made  his  meaning 
  plain";  "it  is  plain  that  he  is  no  reactionary";  "in 
  plain  view"  [syn:  {apparent},  {evident},  {manifest},  {plain}] 
  n  1:  a  document  granting  an  inventor  sole  rights  to  an  invention 
  2:  an  official  document  granting  a  right  or  privilege  [syn:  {letters 
  patent}] 
  v  1:  obtain  a  patent  for  "Should  I  patent  this  invention?" 
  2:  grant  rights  to  grant  a  patent  for 

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