patron
/ˈpeɪtrən/noun
1
- a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, or activity资助人:
a celebrated patron of the arts.
著名的艺术资助人。
1.1
- a distinguished person who takes an honorary position in a charity(慈善事业的)赞助人:
the Mental Health Foundation, of which Her Royal Highness is Patron.
公主殿下为赞助人的心理健康基金会。
2
- a customer of a shop, restaurant, hotel or theatre, especially a regular one(商店、饭店、酒店或剧院的)顾客(尤指老主顾):
we surveyed the plushness of the hotel and its sleek, well-dressed patrons.
我们对这家酒店的豪华状况及其头发光亮、穿着体面的顾客进行了调查。
3
- (in ancient Rome) a patrician in relation to a client(古罗马)有权势的保护人, 庇护人。参见CLIENT (义项3)。
3.1
- (in ancient Rome) the former owner and (frequently) protector of a freed slave(古罗马)已获得自由的奴隶的原主人和保护人。
4
- Brit., chiefly historical a person or institution with the right to grant a benefice to a member of the clergy〈英, 主史〉有圣职授予权的人(或机构)。
词源
Middle English: from Old French, from Latin patronus 'protector of clients, defender', from pater, patr- 'father'.