3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Patronage  \Pa"tron*age\,  n.  [F.  patronage.  Cf  LL  patronaticum 
  and  L.  patronatus.] 
  1.  Special  countenance  or  support;  favor,  encouragement,  or 
  aid,  afforded  to  a  person  or  a  work  as  the  patronage  of 
  letters;  patronage  given  to  an  author. 
 
  2.  Business  custom.  [Commercial  Cant] 
 
  3.  Guardianship,  as  of  a  saint;  tutelary  care  --Addison. 
 
  4.  The  right  of  nomination  to  political  office;  also  the 
  offices,  contracts,  honors,  etc.,  which  a  public  officer 
  may  bestow  by  favor. 
 
  5.  (Eng.  Law)  The  right  of  presentation  to  church  or 
  ecclesiastical  benefice;  advowson.  --Blackstone. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Patronage  \Pa"tron*age\,  v.  t. 
  To  act  as  a  patron  of  to  maintain;  to  defend.  [Obs.]  --Shak. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  patronage 
  n  1:  the  act  of  providing  approval  and  support;  "his  vigorous 
  backing  of  the  conservatives  got  him  in  trouble  with 
  progressives"  [syn:  {backing},  {championship}] 
  2:  customers  collectively;  "they  have  an  upper  class  clientele" 
  [syn:  {clientele},  {business}] 
  3:  a  communication  that  indicates  lack  of  respect  by 
  patronizing  the  recipient  [syn:  {condescension},  {disdain}] 
  4:  (politics)  granting  favors  or  giving  contracts  or  making 
  appointments  to  office  in  return  for  political  support 
  5:  the  business  given  to  a  commercial  establishment  by  its 
  customers:  "even  before  noon  there  was  a  considerable 
  patronage"  [syn:  {trade}] 
  v  1:  support  by  being  a  patron  of 
  2:  be  a  customer  or  client  of  "We  patronize  this  store"  [syn: 
  {patronize},  {support}] 

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