Patron-ship

[pey-truh n] /ˈpeɪ trən/

noun
1.
a person who is a customer, client, or paying guest, especially a regular one, of a store, hotel, or the like.
2.
a person who supports with money, gifts, efforts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum, cause, charity, institution, special event, or the like:
a patron of the arts; patrons of the annual Democratic dance.
3.
a person whose support or protection is solicited or acknowledged by the dedication of a book or other work.
4.
.
5.
Roman History. the protector of a dependent or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him.
6.
Ecclesiastical. a person who has the right of presenting a member of the clergy to a benefice.
/ˈpeɪtrən/
noun
1.
a person, esp a man, who sponsors or aids artists, charities, etc; protector or benefactor
2.
a customer of a shop, hotel, etc, esp a regular one
3.
See patron saint
4.
(in ancient Rome) the protector of a dependant or client, often the former master of a freedman still retaining certain rights over him
5.
(Christianity) a person or body having the right to present a clergyman to a benefice
/patrɔ̃/
noun
1.
a man, who owns or manages a hotel, restaurant, or bar
/ˈpætərn/
noun
1.
(Irish) a variant spelling of pattern2
n.

“a lord-master, a protector,” c.1300, from Old French patron “patron, protector, patron saint” (12c.) and directly from Medieval Latin patronus “patron saint, bestower of a benefice, lord, master, model, pattern,” from Latin patronus “defender, protector, former master (of a freed slave); advocate,” from pater (genitive patris) “father” (see father (n.)). Meaning “one who advances the cause” (of an artist, institution, etc.), usually by the person’s wealth and power, is attested from late 14c.; “commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is paid with flattery” [Johnson]. Commercial sense of “regular customer” first recorded c.1600. Patron saint (1717) originally was simply patron (late 14c.).