patent
Cross references:
1. evident
1. pa.tent \4-7 are 'pat-*nt, 'pa-t-; 1-3 are 'pat-, Brit 'pat-\ aj [ME,
fr. MF, fr. L patent-, patens, fr. prp. of pate-re] or 'pa-t- 1a: open to
public inspection - used chiefly in the phrase letters pa tent 1b:
conferred or appointed by letters patent 1c: appropriated or protected by
letters patent : PATENTED 2: of, relating to, or concerned with the
granting of patents esp. for inv entions 3a: marketed as a proprietary
commodity {a ~ can opener} 3b: making exclusive or proprietary claims or
pretensions 4: OPEN, UNOBSTRUCTED 5: PATULOUS, SPREADING archaic 6:
ACCESSIBLE, EXPOSED 7: OBVIOUS - pa.tent.ly av
2. pat.ent \'pat-*nt, Brit also 'pa-t-\ n 1: an official document
conferring a right or privilege : LETTERS PATE NT 2a: a writing securing to
an inventor for a term of years the exclusive rig ht to make, use, or sell
his invention 2b: the monopoly or right so granted 2c: a patented
invention 3: PRIVILEGE, LICENSE 4: an instrument making a conveyance or
grant of public lands; also :: the land so conveyed
3. pat.ent \.pat-*nt-*-'bil-*t-e-, Brit also .pa-t-\ \'pat-*nt-*-b*l, Brit
also 'pa-t-\ vt 1: to grant a privilege, right, or license to by patent 2:
to obtain or secure by patent; esp : to secure by letters paten t exclusive
right to make, use, or sell 3: to obtain or grant a patent right to -
pat.ent.abil.i.ty n