patronage
/ˈpeɪtɹənɪd͡ʒ/ noun C1- The act of providing approval and support; backing; championship. · His vigorous patronage of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives.
- Customers collectively; clientele; business. · The restaurant had an upper-class patronage.
- The act or state of being a customer of some business. · The restaurant had "Thank you for your patronage!" printed on its take-out bags.
- A communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient; condescension; disdain.
- Granting favours or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support.
- Guardianship, as of a saint; tutelary care.
- The right of nomination to political office.
- Patronising speech or behaviour.
Plural patronages
From the library
--“My mind, however, is now made up on the subject; for, having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England.
Darcy had considerable patronage in the church, and his cousin could have none at all.
Wilfully and wantonly to have thrown off the companion of my youth, the acknowledged favourite of my father, a young man who had scarcely any other dependence than on our patronage, and who had been brought up to expect its exertion, would be a depravity, to which the separation of two young persons whose affection could be the growth of only a few weeks, could bear no comparison.
The Ox took under his patronage the next term of life, and therefore man in his middle age is fond of work, devoted to labor, and resolute to amass wealth and to husband his resources.
Other matches
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