Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To act as a patron to; support or sponsor.
- transitive verb To go to as a customer, especially on a regular basis.
- transitive verb To treat in a condescending manner, often in showing interest or kindness that is insincere.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To act as patron toward; give support or countenance to; favor; assist: as, to
patronize an undertaking; to patronize an opinion. - To assume the air of a patron toward; notice in a superciliously condescending way.
- To ascribe to a person as patron or the responsible party.
- Also spelled
patronise .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To act as patron toward; to support; to countenance; to favor; to aid.
- transitive verb Commercial Cant To trade with customarily; to frequent as a customer.
- transitive verb To assume the air of a patron, or of a superior and protector, toward; -- used in an unfavorable sense.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive To make a
patron . - verb transitive To assume a tone of
unjustified superiority ; totalk down to; to treatcondescendingly . - verb transitive To make oneself a
customer of a business, especially aregular customer.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb be a regular customer or client of
- verb do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
- verb treat condescendingly
- verb assume sponsorship of
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The word patronize can be used about a Starbucks without too much of a pejorative flavor to it, although I patronize Peets almost exclusively!
Stephen's Lighthouse: What to call library user communities.... 2008
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The word patronize can be used about a Starbucks without too much of a pejorative flavor to it, although I patronize Peets almost exclusively!
Stephen's Lighthouse: What to call library user communities.... 2008
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She had not yet learned to use the word patronize in the social sense, and she was at a loss to describe the attitude of Mrs. Duncan and her daughter, though her instinct had registered it.
Coniston — Volume 03 Winston Churchill 1909
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She had not yet learned to use the word patronize in the social sense, and she was at a loss to describe the attitude of Mrs. Duncan and her daughter, though her instinct had registered it.
Coniston — Complete Winston Churchill 1909
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She had not yet learned to use the word patronize in the social sense, and she was at a loss to describe the attitude of Mrs. Duncan and her daughter, though her instinct had registered it.
Project Gutenberg Complete Works of Winston Churchill Winston Churchill 1909
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Mrs. Ludgate was decided by the word patronize: she took the hat, and desired that it should be set down in her bill: but Mrs. la Mode was extremely concerned that she had made a rule, nay a vow, not to take any thing but ready money for the spring hats; and she could not break her vow, even for her favourite Mrs. Ludgate.
Tales and Novels — Volume 02 Maria Edgeworth 1808
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It would seem that there are only a few artists we can actually 'patronize' enthusiastically--Jim Caviezel, Eduardo Verastegui...
The New Beginning papabear 2008
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It would seem that there are only a few artists we can actually 'patronize' enthusiastically--Jim Caviezel, Eduardo Verastegui...
Archive 2008-11-30 papabear 2008
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It would seem that there are only a few artists we can actually 'patronize' enthusiastically--Jim Caviezel, Eduardo Verastegui...
Archive 2008-12-01 papabear 2008
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This will enable doctors and other medical advisers to refer patients to, and will cause patients to "patronize," the better providers, who, if Teisberg and Porter are right, also will often be the less expensive ones because their quality will in part reflect experience and, in various ways, consequent efficiency.
The Urgent Need For Information On The Results (I.e., The Outcomes) Of Medical Care 2007
oroboros commented on the word patronize
Contronymic in the sense: condescend vs. support.
January 27, 2007
travismcdermott commented on the word patronize
1589 G. HARVEY Pierces Supererog. 99 Lordes on both sides, that Patronise good causes.
June 5, 2008