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Noun: patronage  pa-tru-nij or pey-tru-nij
  1. The act of providing approval and support
    "his vigorous patronage of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives";
    - backing, backup, championship
  2. Customers collectively
    "they have an upper class patronage";
    - clientele, business
  3. A communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient
    - condescension, disdain
  4. (politics) granting favours or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support
  5. The business given to a commercial establishment by its customers
    "even before noon there was a considerable patronage";
    - trade
Verb: patronage  pa-tru-nij or pey-tru-nij
  1. Support by being a patron of
  2. Be a regular customer or client of
    - patronize, patronise [Brit], support, keep going

Derived forms: patronaged, patronages, patronaging

Type of: approval, approving, blessing, business, depreciation, derogation, disparagement, foster, keep, maintain, nurture, people, social control, sustain

Encyclopedia: Patronage