Patent Definition
pătnt
patented, patenting, patents
noun
patents
A grant made by a government that confers upon the creator of an invention the sole right to make, use, and sell that invention for a set period of time.
American Heritage Medicine
An official document open to public examination and granting a certain right or privilege; letters patent; esp., a document granting the exclusive right to produce, sell, or get profit from an invention, process, etc. for a specific number of years.
Webster's New World
An invention protected by such a grant.
American Heritage Medicine
The thing protected by such a right; patented article or process.
Webster's New World
Public land, or title to such land, granted to a person by letters patent.
Webster's New World
adjective
Open to examination by the public.
Letters patent.
Webster's New World
Granted or appointed by letters patent.
Webster's New World
Open to all; generally accessible or available.
Webster's New World
Obvious; plain; evident.
A patent lie.
Webster's New World
Protected by a patent; patented.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
verb
patented, patenting, patents
To secure exclusive right to produce, use, and sell (an invention or process) by a patent; get a patent for.
Webster's New World
To grant a patent to or for.
Webster's New World
To invent, originate, or be the proprietor of (an idea, for example).
American Heritage
Origin of Patent
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Middle English document granting a right short for (lettre) patent open (letter) from Old French (lettre) patente from Latin patēns patent- open present participle of patēre to be open petə- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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Short form of Anglo-Norman lettre patente, "open letter", from Latin littera patens.
From Wiktionary
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From Latin patens (“open, lying open"), present participle of patere (“to lie open").
From Wiktionary
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