All 3 Uses of
patron
in
Water for Elephants
- The patrons close in behind, standing on tiptoe, gawking.†
Chpt 3
- The crowd roars and she calmly hands the delighted patron his hat.†
Chpt 12
- In Hartford, a handful of patrons take serious exception to Rosie's nonperformance, as well as the continued presence of the Lovely Lucinda sideshow banner despite the unfortunate absence of the Lovely Lucinda.†
Chpt 21 *
Definitions:
-
(1)
(patron as in: a patron of the arts) a regular customer; or someone who gives money or support to an organization, cause, or person
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
In ancient Roman history, patron referred to the more powerful person in a complex client-patron relationship. The term is still used in some cultures today to describe a property owner who is in charge of workers.
Also see patron saint.
Much more rarely, a patron is the proprietor of an inn.