(n.) Special countenance or support; favor, encouragement, or
aid, afforded to a person or a work; as, the patronage of letters;
patronage given to an author.
(n.) Business custom.
(n.) Guardianship, as of a saint; tutelary care.
(n.) The right of nomination to political office; also, the
offices, contracts, honors, etc., which a public officer may bestow by
favor.
(n.) The right of presentation to church or ecclesiastical
benefice; advowson.
(v. t.) To act as a patron of; to maintain; to defend.
