patronize, v.
(ˈpætrənaɪz)
[f. patron n. + -ize: cf. OF. patroniser (1456 in Godef.), med.L. patronizāre (1382 in Du Cange) to lead a galley as patron.]
1. trans. To act as a patron towards, to extend patronage to; to protect, support, favour, countenance, encourage: orig. as the act of one in a superior or influential position.
| 1589 G. Harvey Pierce's Super. Wks. (Grosart) II. 166 Lordes on both sides, that Patronise good causes. a 1610 Parsons Leicester's Ghost (1641) 4 Some others tooke mee for a zealous man, Because good Preachers I did patronize. 1621 T. Williamson tr. Goulart's Wise Vieillard A ij b, A good Booke in these dayes had need of a good man to Patronize it. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 469 ¶2 He patronizes the Orphan and Widow, assists the Friendless, and guides the Ignorant. 1801 Strutt Sports & Past. Introd. 12 Henry the Seventh patronized the gentlemen and officers of his court in the practice of military Exercises. 1859 Geo. Eliot A. Bede v, It will hardly do for me to patronise a Methodist preacher, even if she would consent to be patronized by an idle shepherd. |
| absol. 1742 Pope Dunc. iv. 102 There march'd the bard and blockhead, side by side, Who rhym'd for hire, and patroniz'd for pride. 1878 E. Yates Wrecked in Port x. 98 Silly heads are apt to take airs at the mere idea of being in a position to patronise. |
† b. Said of a patron saint or tutelary deity.
Obs.| 1595 Spenser Epithal. 391 And thou, great Iuno! which..The lawes of wedlock still dost patronize. a 1604 Hanmer Chron. Irel. (1809) 117 At Gemblacum in Flanders, where the Church (say they) is patronized by Saint Machutus, alias Maclovius. 1632 Lithgow Trav. i. 28 Vnto this falsely patronized Chappell, they offer yearely many rich gifts. |
† c. To defend, support, stand by; to advocate; to justify; to countenance.
Obs.| 1595 W. W. tr. Plautus' Menechmus in Nichols Plays (1779) 133 Facing out bad causes for the oppressors, and patronizing some just actions for the wronged. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage i. iv. 18 Christ patronizeth his Disciples, plucking the eares of Corne. 1670 Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 327 Elect such an High Steward..as may always be ready..to..patronize the justice of your actions. 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. III. 348 Nor..may we patronize our Sloth or our Sullenness, by a pretence of incapacity to do the publick Service. 1785 Jefferson Writ. (1859) I. 485 Appointed by their country to patronize their rights. |
† d. Said of things.
Obs.| 1633 T. Adams Exp. 2 Peter i. 4 That which is patronized by usualness, slips into the opinion of lawfulness. 1695 J. Edwards Perfect. Script. 40 It is so corruptly translated that it is made to patronize several of their superstitious follies. a 1710 G. Bull Serm. xviii. Wks. 1827 I. 436 There is no action so foolishly done, but that the examples of wise men may be alleged to patronise the folly of it. |
† 2. With
upon: To lay the responsibility for (a thing)
upon some one; to make or declare a person responsible for; to father
upon any one.
Obs.| 1626 J. Pory in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. III. 246 For all the Kinges Royall bounty amongst them,..they patronized upon the Queen debtes to the value of above {pstlg}19000. 1633 T. Adams Exp. 2 Peter i. 1 Let this teach..You of the laity, not to patronize your sins upon the example of others. 1643 Howell Twelve Treat. (1661) 205 That warre (which some by a most monstrous impudence would patronize upon their Majesties). |
3. To assume the air of a patron towards; to treat with a manner or air of condescending notice.
| 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian i, The musical genius whom she patronised. 1820 Hazlitt Lect. Dram. Lit. 10 Feeling much the same awkward condescending disposition to patronise these first crude attempts at poetry and lispings of the Muse. 1845 Disraeli Sybil i. ii, Spruce..had a weakness for the aristocracy, who..patronized him with condescending dexterity. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. ii. xiv, I don't want to be patronized. |
4. In commercial or colloquial use: To favour or support with one's expenditure or custom; to frequent as a customer or visitor; to favour with one's presence, resort to, frequent.
| 1801 M. Edgeworth Out of Debt iii, ‘Positively, ma'am, you must patronize my spring hat’, said the milliner. 1850 R. G. Cumming Hunter's Life S. Afr. (1902) 24/1 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. |
Hence
ˈpatronized ppl. a.,
ˈpatronizing vbl. n.; also
ˈpatronizable a., capable of being patronized or treated patronizingly.
| 1664 H. More Myst. Iniq. Apol. 547 Rather the taking of it away then the Patronizing of it. 1837 Arnold Lett. in Stanley Life (1845) II. 72 A..friend..made the same objection to Victor Cousin's tone: ‘It was’, he said, ‘a patronizing of Christianity’. 1884 ‘Basil’ Wearing of the Green II. xviii. 23 Norah's modest dress made her seem more patronisable than ever. 1897 D. Smeaton Smollett v. 62. |