Both Uses of
patronize
in
The Scarlet Pimpernel
- They were mostly fisher-folk who patronised Mr. Jellyband's coffee-room, but fishermen are known to be very thirsty people; the salt which they breathe in, when they are on the sea, accounts for their parched throats when on shore, but "The Fisherman's Rest" was something more than a rendezvous for these humble folk.†
Chpt 2unconventional spelling: This is the British spelling. Americans spell it patronized.
- I don't patronise the ring for nothing, do I, Tony?†
Chpt 6 *unconventional spelling: This is the British spelling. Americans spell it patronize.
Definitions:
-
(1)
(patronize as in: Don't patronize me.) treat in a manner that demonstrates a sense of superiority, but is supposed to seem kind
or:
the actions of a patron (to support someone or something; or to be a customer) -
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
More rarely, patronize can mean to "give business to" as in "I don't patronize that restaurant because the owner is rude."