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patronage |
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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