English
patron
Patron comes from Latin patrōnus ‘a protector, patron’, from pater ‘father’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ph₂tḗr.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ph₂tḗr‘father’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*patēr‘father’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpater‘father’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpatrōnus‘a protector, patron’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400patron
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500patroun
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1590–1592patron
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ph₂tḗr‘father’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*patēr‘father’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpater‘father’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpatrōnus‘a protector, patron’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400patron
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500patroun
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1590–1592patron
Earliest quotation: c. 1590–1592, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew: “patron of my life and liberty”.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *peh₂- ‘to protect, to ward’
food, company, pain, feed, pope, foster, apparent, fur, pastor, companion, fodder, fad, penetration, pasture, forage, papal, accompaniment, panini, fatherly, pav, patrician, pannier, pantaloons, 58 more
through Proto-Indo-European *ph₂tḗr ‘father’
through Latin pater ‘father’
papa, perpetrator, paternity, paternal, padre, père, perpetrate, compere, pater, patrimony, 17 more
through Old French patron
Today it means
noun One who protects or supports; a defender or advocate.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ph₂tḗr / patron