PATE, p[=a]t, _n._ the crown of the head: the head.--_adj._ P[=A]T'ED, having a pate. [Through O. Fr., from Ger. _platte_, a plate; cf. Low L. _platta_, tonsure.]
PÂTÉ, pä-t[=a]', _n._ pie: pasty.--PÂTÉ DE FOIE GRAS, pasty of fat goose liver: Strasburg pie. [Fr.]
PATELLA, pa-tel'la, _n._ a little dish or vase: the knee-pan: a genus of gasteropodous univalve molluscs: the limpet.--_adjs._ PATEL'LAR, pertaining to the patella or knee-cap; PATEL'LATE or PATEL'LULATE; PATEL'LIFORM, of the form of a small dish or saucer. [L., dim. of _patina_, a pan.]
PATEN, pat'en, _n._ the plate for the bread in the Eucharist. [Fr.,--L. _patina_, a plate--Gr. _patan[=e]_.]
PATENT, p[=a]'tent, or pat'ent, _adj._ lying open: conspicuous: public: protected by a patent: (_bot._) spreading: expanding.--_n._ an official document, open, and having the Great Seal of the government attached to it, conferring an exclusive right or privilege, as a title of nobility, or the sole right for a term of years to the proceeds of an invention: something invented and protected by a patent.--_v.t._ P[=A]'TENT, to grant or secure by patent.--_adj._ P[=A]'TENTABLE, capable of being patented.--_ns._ P[=A]TENTEE', one who holds a patent, or to whom a patent is granted--also P[=A]'TENTER; P[=A]'TENT-LEATH'ER, a kind of leather to which a permanently polished surface is given by a process of japanning; P[=A]'TENTOR, one who grants or who secures a patent; P[=A]'TENT-RIGHT, the exclusive right reserved by letters-patent.--_n.pl._ P[=A]'TENT-ROLLS, the register of letters-patent issued in England.--PATENT MEDICINE, a medicine sold under the authority of letters-patent, any proprietary medicine generally on which stamp-duty is paid; PATENT OFFICE, an office for the granting of patents for inventions; PATENT OUTSIDE, or INSIDE, a newspaper printed on the outside or inside only, sold to a publisher who fills the other side with his own material, as local news, &c. [Fr.,--L. _patens_, _-entis_, pr.p. of _pat[=e]re_, to lie open.]
PATERA, pat'e-rä, _n._ a round flat dish for receiving a sacrificial libation among the Romans: (_archit._) the representation of such in bas-relief in friezes, &c.--often applied loosely to rosettes and other flat ornaments:--_pl._ PAT'ERÆ (-r[=e]).--_adj._ PAT'ERIFORM. [L.,--_pat[=e]re_, to lie open.]