v. To assume a tone of unjustified superiority; to talk down to; to treat condescendingly.
v. To make oneself a customer of a business, especially a regular customer.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
v. To act as patron toward; to support; to countenance; to favor; to aid.
v. To trade with customarily; to frequent as a customer.
v. To assume the air of a patron, or of a superior and protector, toward; -- used in an unfavorable sense.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
To act as patron toward; give support or countenance to; favor; assist: as, to patronize an undertaking; to patronize an opinion.
To assume the air of a patron toward; notice in a superciliously condescending way.
To ascribe to a person as patron or the responsible party.
Also spelled patronise.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
v. be a regular customer or client of
v. do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
v. treat condescendingly
v. assume sponsorship of
Word Usage
"She had not yet learned to use the word patronize in the social sense, and she was at a loss to describe the attitude of Mrs. Duncan and her daughter, though her instinct had registered it."