1. Father in the the senses of protector and defender of his clients (viz. of individuals, of cities, or provinces); also, the former master of a freedman or freedwoman; an advocate or defender before a court of justice, or, generally, of any person or cause.
2. In Middle Latin, it acquired the senses of patron saint, patron or advowee (advocatus) of a church, and that of lord or master, in many specific connexions; also that of exemplar, pattern.
3. Most of these senses are represented in English patron, but the order in which they were taken into English does not correspond to that of their appearance in the Latin and Romanic sense.
4. A person of distinction who gave his protection and aid to a client in return for certain services.
5. Someone who gives money or other support to someone or something; especially in the arts.