Etymologically
Log in

patrona

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 20 October 2026 at 12:55. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [paˈtroː.na][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [paˈtrɔː.na][1]

Forms

patrōna f (genitive patrōnae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin patrōnus (“patron, protector”), its feminine form.[2][1][3] That noun is formed from pater (“father”),[1][4] which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *pater- and Proto-Indo-European *ph₂tḗr (“father”).[4] Cognate with Oscan patir, Ancient Greek πατήρ (patḗr) and Old High German fater.[4] The origin of the PIE word is disputed: it may come from a root ⟨*ph₂-⟩ “to protect”, or be a ⟨*-ter-⟩ derivative of a nursery word ⟨*pa⟩.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan and Köbler record it first in Plautus,[4][5] who uses it of a goddess as a protectress, qui sunt qui a patrona preces mea expetessunt?, “who are they who seek prayers from my patroness?”, and also of the patroness of a freedman.[2]

Semantic evolution

It means a woman who protects someone, and in particular the former mistress of a freedman or freedwoman,[2][3] the sense found in Pliny the Younger and Tacitus.[6] In Terence, Thais is told te mihi patronam capio, “I take you as my patroness”,[3] and Catullus addresses a goddess as patrōna virgō.[6] Figuratively, Cicero calls the right of appeal patrōna illa cīvitātis, “that protectress of the state”, and Plautus uses it of the tongue.[3][6] In medieval Britain it was used of the Virgin as patroness of an order, and since the 13th century of a woman who held the right to present a priest to a church.[7] Italian has patrona from the Latin word.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a protectress and of a freedman's patroness.[2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence has te mihi patronam capio.[3][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it figuratively of the right of appeal.[3][5]
  • 1262 – A British document calls nuns the patronesses of a church.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A protectress, patroness.[2][3][1]
  2. The patroness (former mistress) of a freedman or freedwoman.[2][3]
  3. (figurative) A safeguard, defender.[3][6]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A patron saint (female); a woman holding the advowson of a church.[7]

Usage notes

The Catholicon Anglicum (1483) also has patrona for a mould to cast in, a word Köbler calls of unclear origin.[7][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press