Make Your Point > Archived Issues > PATRONIZE

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explore the archives: A patron is sometimes a customer or client, other times a sponsor or protector. In fact, in various historical contexts, a patron was also a lord, a master, a slave owner, a saint, and a god. That explains why patronize has multiple meanings--and why Spanish "patrón" ("boss") is a good name for a tequila, and why you conjure a Patronus to protect yourself in the Harry Potter universe, and why you use Patreon.com to help fund artists and other creators.  So when you think about how patronize ended up with more than one meaning, the process seems pretty legit. Less legit is when a word takes on a second meaning because people mistake it for a similar-sounding word. That seems to have happened with both j_j____ ("boring" or "juvenile") and f_____che ("wildly fierce" or "sullenly shy"). Could you recall these? make your point with... "PATRONIZE" To patronize a business is to go there or spend money there (often regularly) as a customer or client. And, to patronize people is to treat them in a snobby way, as if they are below you.  Pronunciation: PAY truh nize (or if you prefer, "PAT ruh nize") Part of speech: Verb. It's usually transitive (you patronize a place or patronize people) but occasionally intransitive (you simply patronize, meaning you speak in a snobby way that assumes others are below you). Other forms: patronized, patronizing, patron(s) How to use it: For the first meaning, talk about patronizing a restaurant, a store, a theater and so on. You can also patronize an establishment like the library--you're not spending money there, but you're going there and using its services, so you're a patron. For the second meaning, we sometimes patronize people on purpose, talking down to them as if they're stupid or inferior, but we also sometimes patronize people accidentally, offering unwelcome help or making incorrect assumptions about their lack of ability or intelligence. examples: The restaurant shut down--the Mexican one we'd patronized weekly, where you got chips immediately and the desserts came huge and cheap. If you pat a dog's head and ask her "Who's a good girl?", she seems to say "Me! It's me!" Do the same with a cat, and her face says "Don't patronize me." study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "patronize" means when you can explain it without saying "be a customer" or "treat with an attitude of superiority." try it out: Think of a time someone underestimated your knowledge, skills, abilities, or intelligence. Fill in the blanks: "(In a particular situation), (someone) gave a patronizing (smile/chuckle/speech/offer of help)." Example: "On the first day of class, one of my graduate professors gave a patronizing speech about what plagiarism is." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing with rhyming puzzles as we review previous words.  Examples: Someone who belts out songs in church with great gusto has ____ ___. Answer: hymn vim. And the barbecue place where you always meet up with your friends from Dallas and Houston is your _____ _____. Answer: Texas nexus. The puzzles, and their answers, will get longer and sillier as the month goes on. Click or mouse-over the link to the clue if you need it, and see each answer the following day. Enjoy! From yesterday: You tell it like it is, giving your honest opinion even if it hurts other people's feelings. Yet you manage to do this with more eloquence and loftiness than others--your brutal honesty is expressed majestically. You have _____ ______. (Two words, two syllables each. Clue: use this word.) Answer: grander candor. Try this today: You hate it when people persuade others using insincere flattery (kind little comments or compliments). So you're always on the lookout for this behavior, and when you see it happening, you interfere. You're on ______ ______. (Two words, two syllables each. Clue: use this word.) review today's word: 1. One opposite of TO PATRONIZE is A. TO RESPECT B. TO MOTHER C. TO DENY 2.  City officials encourage residents and tourists to patronize _____. A. commonsense safety precautions near the water B. the local high school by attending its fall festival C. the farmers market and locally-owned restaurants Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C