Pa"tron*age (?), n. [F. patronage. Cf. LL. patronaticum, and L. patronatus.]
1.
Special countenance or support; favor, encouragement, or aid, afforded to a person or a work; as, the patronage of letters; patronage given to an author.
2.
Business custom.
[Commercial Cant]
3.
Guardianship, as of a saint; tutelary care.
Addison.
4.
The right of nomination to political office; also, the offices, contracts, honors, etc., which a public officer may bestow by favor.
5. Eng.Law
The right of presentation to church or ecclesiastical benefice; advowson.
Blackstone.
© Webster 1913.
Pa"tron*age, v. t.
To act as a patron of; to maintain; to defend.
[Obs.]
Shak.
© Webster 1913.