Etymology Map
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Patent

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a government licence for an invention; obvious

Where does the word "patent" come from? It comes from Latin patere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
patere
Latin · ancient
"to lie open"
the root of 'patio'
2
Stage 2 of 3
patent
Old French · medieval
"open"
'letters patent' were open royal documents
3
Stage 3 of 3
patent
English · 1300s
"open"
inventors' patents date from the 1600s
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Read the full story

Patent’s story begins in Latin: patere meant “to lie open.” The root of 'patio'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as patent. 'letters patent' were open royal documents. It reached English by 1300s as patent. Inventors' patents date from the 1600s. Today, patent means a government licence for an invention; obvious.