patent English · revision 7050

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1292|origins=la pateo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpætənt/, /ˈpeɪtənt/; /ˈpeɪtənt/, /ˈpætənt/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is short for “letters patent”, [[bor|xno|lettre patente|t=open letter]], Medieval Latin litterae patentes,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|fro|patent|t=open]], from Latin [[m|la|patens|t=lying open]], the present participle of [[m|la|pateo|alt=patēre|t=to lie open]],^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*peth₂-|alt=*pete-|t=to spread]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adjective, in ''letters patent'': 1292 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The noun, a papal indulgence, is from before 1376, in ''Piers Plowman'', and a document granting a right or title about 1387–95, in Chaucer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Letters patent were written on open sheets with the Great Seal hanging at the bottom, unlike the more private letters close, which were folded and sealed.^(Etymonline) A licence giving the exclusive right to exploit a new invention is from the 1580s,^(Etymonline) and of an invention, protected by patent, from 1824.^(OED 1989) The adjective ''open, evident'' is from the mid-15th century (patently),^(Etymonline) and open as a door or passage from 1563.^(OED 1989) The verb, to obtain land by letters patent, is from the 1670s, and to obtain an exclusive right to an invention by 1822.^(Etymonline) ''Patent leather'', with a glossy finish, follows from the trade sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1292 – letters patent.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1376 – a papal indulgence.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-15th century – evident.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – a patent for an invention.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1824 – patented (of an invention).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A government licence giving someone the sole right to make, use or sell an [[invention]] for a set period.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An invention protected in this way.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Obvious; plain: ''a patent lie''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Protected by a patent.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(medicine)'' Open or unobstructed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To obtain a patent for.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[patentability]]

+ * [[patentable]]

+ * [[patently]]

+ * [[patentably]]

+ * [[unpatent]]

+ * [[patentee]]

+ * [[patentor]]

+ * [[prepatent]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[patency]]

+ * [[fathom]]

+ * [[petal]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ According to the Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, British English uses /ˈpæt.ənt/ in “letters patent” and usually for the noun meaning legal protection of inventions, but /ˈpeɪ.tənt/ is otherwise more usual.^(Roach et al. 2011) American English usually says /ˈpæt.ənt/, except for the sense “obvious”, where /ˈpeɪ.tənt/ is normal.^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}