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— pat·ri·mo·ni·al adjective

pa·tri·ot noun [ORIGIN: MF patriote compatriot, fr. LL patriota, fr. Gk patriōtēs, fr. patria lineage, fr. patr-, patēr father]

: one who loves his or her country

— pa·tri·ot·ic adjective

— pa·tri·ot·i·cal·ly adverb

— pa·tri·o·tism noun

pa·tris·tic adjective : of or relating to the church fathers or their writings

1patrol noun : the action of going the rounds (as of an area) for observation or the maintenance of security; also : a person or group performing such an action

2patrol verb pa·trolled; pa·trol·ling : to carry out a patrol

pa·trol·man noun : a police officer assigned to a beat

patrol wagon noun : PADDY WAGON

pa·tron noun [ORIGIN: ME, fr. AF, fr. ML & L; ML patronus patron saint, patron of a benefice, pattern, fr. L, defender, fr. patr-, pater father]

1 : a person chosen or named as special protector

2 : a wealthy or influential supporter <~ of poets>; also : BENEFACTOR

3 : a regular client or customer

Synonyms

[2] backer, guarantor, sponsor, surety—more at SPONSOR

[3] customer, guest—more at CUSTOMER

pa·tron·age noun 1 : the support or influence of a patron

2 : the trade of customers

3 : control of appointment to government jobs

pa·tron·ess noun : a woman who is a patron

pa·tron·ise British variant of PATRONIZE

pa·tron·ize verb -ized; -iz·ing 1 : to be a customer of

2 : to treat condescendingly, haughtily, or coolly

3 : to act as patron of : provide aid or support for

Synonyms

advocate, back, champion, endorse, support—more at SUPPORT

pat·ro·nym·ic noun : a name derived from the name of one's father or a paternal ancestor usu. by the addition of an affix

pa·troon noun : the proprietor of a manorial estate esp. in New York under Dutch rule

pat·sy noun, plural pat·sies : a person who is easily duped or victimized

1patter verb : to talk glibly or mechanically

2patter noun 1 : a specialized lingo

2 : extremely rapid talk

Synonyms

argot, cant, dialect, jargon, language, lingo, patois, slang, vocabulary—more at DIALECT

3patter verb : to strike, pat, or tap rapidly

4patter noun : a quick succession of taps or pats

1pattern noun [ORIGIN: ME patron, fr. AF, fr. ML patronus, fr. L, defender, fr. patr-, pater father]

1 : an ideal model

2 : something used as a model for making things

3 : SAMPLE

4 : an artistic design

5 : CONFIGURATION

6 : an established mode of behavior or set of beliefs or attitudes

Synonyms

[4] design, figure, motif, motive; also device; adornment, caparison, decoration, embellishment, frill, garnish, ornament, trim

[6] custom, fashion, groove, habit, practice, routine, rut, treadmill, way, wont

2pattern verb : to form according to a pattern

pat·ty also pat·tie noun, plural patties 1 : a little pie

2 : a small flat cake esp. of chopped food

Synonyms

cutlet, fritter

pau·ci·ty noun : smallness of number or quantity

Synonyms

dearth, deficiency, deficit, failure, famine, inadequacy, insufficiency, lack, poverty, scantiness, scarcity, shortage, want—more at DEFICIENCY

paunch noun : a usu. large belly : POTBELLY

— paunchy adjective

pau·per noun : a person without means of support except from charity

— pau·per·ize verb

pau·per·ism noun : the quality or state of being a pauper

Synonyms

beggary, destitution, impecuniousness, impoverishment, indigence, need, penury, poverty, want—more at POVERTY

1pause noun 1 : a temporary stop; also : a period of inaction

2 : a brief suspension of the voice

3 : a sign (as ) above or below a musical note or rest to show it is to be prolonged

4 : a reason for pausing

5 : a function of an electronic device that pauses a recording

Synonyms

break, breath, breathe, interruption, lull; also time-out; interim, interlude, intermission, interval, recess, respite, rest; cessation, discontinuance, ending, expiration, finishing, stopping, termination; abeyance, moratorium, surcease,