patronizev.
/ˈpatrənʌɪz/, U.S. /ˈpeɪtrəˌnaɪz/, /ˈpætrəˌnaɪz/ 1. † b. intransitive. To extend patronage to a person, cause, etc. Obsolete. rare.
a. transitive. Of a person, class, organization, etc.: to act as a patron towards, to extend patronage to (a person, cause, etc.); to protect, support, favour, or encourage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > patronage > act as patron to [verb (transitive)]
to take upc1384
patronage1587
patronize1593
empatron1609
patron?1624
to take in tow1790
Maecenas1837
1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 99 Lordes on both sides, that Patronise good causes.
a1610 T. Rogers Leycesters Ghost (1641) 5 Some others tooke mee for a zealous man, Because good Preachers I did patronize.
1621 T. W. in tr. S. Goulart Wise Vieillard A ij b A good Booke in these dayes had need of a good man to Patronize it.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 469. ¶2 He patronizes the Orphan and Widow, assists the Friendless, and guides the Ignorant.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. i. 14 The nobility were divided..as to the merits of the musical genius, whom she patronized, and those of another candidate for fame.
1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod Introd. 12 Henry the Seventh patronized the gentlemen and officers of his court in the practice of military Exercises.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede I. i. v. 112 It will hardly do for me to patronise a Methodist preacher, even if she would consent to be patronized by an idle shepherd.
1883 Harper's Mag. Aug. 470/1 There must be something very entertaining in seeing one grandson or granddaughter patronizing another, as a nobleman patronizes a peasant.
1953 M. Kennedy Troy Chimneys (new ed.) 51 Immense wealth and noble birth may enable a man to patronise the arts, but I suspect that they impede his capacity as a critic.
1988 P. Manuel Pop. Musics Non-Western World (1990) vi. 161 Secular art music, patronized by the court and the aristocracy.
1998 Times 30 May 22/4 One of the loveliest monuments in London is..to a royal lady who patronised charity.
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1742 A. Pope New Dunciad 102 There march'd the bard and blockhead, side by side, Who rhym'd for hire, and patroniz'd for pride.
1869 E. Yates Wrecked in Port I. x. 220 Silly heads are apt to take airs at the mere idea of being in a position to patronise.
2. † a. transitive. To watch over as a guardian or protecting god. Cf. patron n. 2b. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > care for, protect, or have charge of [verb (transitive)] > as divinity, angel, or saint
patronage1587
patronize1595
1595 E. Spenser Epithalamion in Amoretti & Epithalamion sig. H6v And thou great Iuno, which..The lawes of wedlock still dost patronize.
b. transitive. To be a patron saint of. Now rare.
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a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 59 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) At Gemblacum in Flanders, where the Church (say they) is patronized by Saint Machutus, alias Maclovius.
1868 R. F. Burton Let. 11 Aug. in Lett. from Paraguay (1870) 83 August 30 is the anniversary of Santa Rosa, a young person who..patronizes South America.
2000 Asiaweek (Nexis) 9 June 17 If you're frustrated by slow-loading Web pages, Saint Expedito might spring to mind. Alas, he's busy patronizing the procrastinators.
a. transitive. To defend, support, or stand up for; to act as an advocate for; to justify; to countenance. Obsolete.
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the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > support or encourage [verb (transitive)] > support or defend
to stand by ——OE
to speak for ——a1300
to stand for ——1384
maintainc1390
to stand up for1562
to stand out for?c1576
to stand to ——1582
patronize1595
stickle1632
to stick up for1792
championize1840
champion1844
to take up the cudgels1869
1595 W. W. tr. Plautus Menæcmi iv. sig. C4 Facing out bad causes for the oppressors, and patronizing some iust actions for the wronged.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage i. iv. 18 Christ patronizeth his Disciples, plucking the eares of Corne.
1670 A. Marvell Let. 14 June in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 109 Elect such an High Steward..as may always be ready..to..patronize the justice of your actions.
1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. III. 348 Nor..may we patronize our Sloth or our Sullenness, by a pretence of incapacity to do the publick Service.
1785 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) I. 485 Appointed by their country to patronize their rights.
b. transitive. In extended use: to condone, accept. Obsolete.
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1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (i. 4) 74 That which is patronised by usualnesse, slips into the opinion of lawfulnesse.
1695 J. Edwards Disc. conc. Old & New-Test. III. i. 40 It is so corruptly translated that it is made to patronize several of their Superstitious Follies.
a1710 G. Bull Serm. (1713) II. 729 There is no Action so foolishly done, but that the Examples of wise Men may be alleg'd to patronize the Folly of it.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > attribution or assignment of cause > assign to a cause [verb (transitive)] > attribute something to someone > put upon or ascribe to someone
fastOE
lay13..
fastenc1390
redound1477
impinge1535
thank1560
stick1607
patronize1626
fix1665
1626 J. Pory Let. 11 Aug. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. III. 246 For all the Kinges Royall bounty amongst them,..they patronized upon the Queen debtes to the value of above £19,000.
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (i. 1) 5 Let this teach..You of the Laitie, not to patronize your sinnes upon the example of others.
1661 J. Howell Twelve Several Treat. 205 That warre (which some by a most monstrous impudence would patronize upon their Majesties).
5. transitive. To favour or support (a shop, restaurant, theatre, etc.) with one's custom; to frequent, esp. as a customer or visitor; to favour with one's presence.
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society > trade and finance > buying > buy [verb (transitive)] > patronize
custom1639
patronize1927
1804 M. Edgeworth Out of Debt iv, in Pop. Tales I. 368 ‘Positively, ma'am, you must patronise my spring hat,’ said the milliner.
1850 R. Gordon-Cumming Five Years Hunter's Life S. Afr. I. v. 97 One side of it was..patronized by several flocks of Egyptian wild geese.
1885 Daily Tel. 17 Sept. (Cassell) Chop-houses, patronized by the clerk and the apprentice.
1927 Sunday Express 29 May 5/1 Every conceivable kind of article which forms the heterogeny of the shops patronised by women.
1959 F. Astaire Steps in Time (1960) xi. 114 The nobility patronized the show, not with just a single visit, but quite often.
1988 M. Binchy Silver Wedding i. 4 Anna Doyle worked in..a small bookshop much patronized by authors and publishers and all kinds of media.
6.
a. transitive. To assume an air of superiority towards; to treat or speak about (a person, etc.) condescendingly, esp. with apparent indulgence or kindness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > haughtiness or disdainfulness > treat haughtily or disdainfully [verb (transitive)]
condescendc1460
boya1625
patronize1820
schoolmarm1903
ritz1911
high-tone1917
upstage1921
high-hat1922
infantilize1931
1820 W. Hazlitt Lect. Dramatic Lit. 10 Feeling much the same awkward condescending disposition to patronise these first crude attempts at poetry and lispings of the Muse.
1845 B. Disraeli Sybil I. i. ii. 14 Spruce..had a weakness for the aristocracy, who..patronized him with condescending dexterity.
1937 D. L. Sayers Busman's Honeymoon Prothalamion 10 It was great fun seeing her try to patronise the Warden.
1977 C. Blackwood Great Granny Webster (1978) iii. 73 She tried to convert everyone to her beliefs, and became snarling and hostile if she felt her audience was patronizing her.
2002 D. Gill Amateur Yorksherman 49 They'll tell yer it falls fer the An tha'd better dig thissen Another story than patronise em Wi yer out-o-towner sympathy.
b. intransitive. To assume or adopt an air of superiority; to act or speak condescendingly.
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1865 A. Trollope Can you forgive Her? II. xxxix. 308 Lady Glencora was the least inclined to patronize or to be condescending in her kindnesses.
1935 ‘A. Bridge’ Illyrian Spring x. 120 Her natural modesty gave her no sense of a pedestal from which to patronise, partly out of an instinctive fastidiousness.
1989 P. Lively Passing On viii. 105 ‘Quite a spree! Very good for you both.’ ‘Don't patronise,’ said Helen.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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