I.pro tection, defence, patronage (cf.: praesidium, clientela, tutela).
I. In gen.: “patrocinia appellari coepta, cum plebs distributa est inter patres, ut eorum opibus tuta esset,” Fest. p. 233 Müll.: “illud patrocinium orbis terrae verius, quam imperium poterat nominari,” Cic. Off. 2, 8, 27: “cujus patrocinio civitas plurimum utebatur,” Sall. C. 41, 4; “id. Or. Philippi contra Lepid.: utraque factio Macedonum patrociniis nitebatur,” Nep. Phoc. 3, 1; Inscr. Grut. 354, 1. —
B. Trop., defence, protection: “voluptatis,” Cic. Fin. 2, 21, 67: “voluptas plurimorum patrociniis defenditur,” id. Par. 1, 3, 15: “mollitiae,” Liv. 5, 6: “difficultatis patrocinia praeteximus segnitiae,” Quint. 1, 12, 16; cf. id. 10, 1, 28: “causa patrocinio non bona pejor erit,” Ov. Tr. 1, 1, 26; Plin. 13, 3, 4, § 23. —
II. In partic., a defence in a court of justice, a pleading: “hoc dicendi genus ad patrocinia mediocriter aptum videbatur,” Cic. Brut. 29, 112: “legitimarum et civilium controversiarum patrocinia suscipere,” id. Or. 34, 120: “arripere patrocinium aequitatis,” id. de Or. 1, 57, 242: “aliquae (controversiae) in meum quoque inciderunt patrocinium,” Quint. 7, 2, 5; 5, 13, 40: “patrocinium feneratorum,” Liv. 6, 15.—
B. Transf., concr.: patrocinia, persons defended, clients, Vatin. ap. Cic. Fam. 5, 9, 1.
