Patron
/ˈpeɪ.trən/noun
A person who supports, protects, or sponsors another person, cause, or institution.
Did you know?Patron comes from Latin pater, meaning “father,” because a patron was originally seen as a powerful protector and provider in Roman society.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ph₂tḗr
“father”
Latin
Latin
pater
“father”
Latin
Latin
patronus
“protector, defender, advocate; a master’s former slave’s legal patron”
Old French
Old French
patron
“protector, model, exemplar”
Middle English
English
patron
“a protector or benefactor”
Modern English
English
patron
“a supporter, sponsor, or customer of a business or institution”