1. One who protects, supports, or countenances; a defender. "Patron of my life and liberty." Shak. "The patron of true holiness." Spenser. 2. (Rom. Antiq.) (a) A master who had freed his slave, but still retained some paternal rights over him. (b) A man of distinction under whose protection another person placed himself. (c) An advocate or pleader. Let him who works the client wrong Beware the pat...