I. Lit., a protector, defender, patron (of individuals, or of cities and entire provinces; also, the former master of a freedman); PATRONVS SI CLIENTI FRAVDEM FECERIT SACER ESTO, Fragm. XII. Tab. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 6, 609; “quot enim clientes circa singulos fuistis patronos, tot nunc, etc., Liv 6, 18, 6: ego me patronum profiteor plebis,” id. 6, 18, 14; “civitatum et nationum,” Cic. Off. 1, 11, 35; id. Pis. 11, 25; cf.: “tum conventus ille Capuae, qui me unum patronum adoptavit, etc.,” id. Sest. 4, 9; Inscr. A. U. C. 742, Marin. Fratr Arv. p. 782; see also Inscr. Orell. 956; 1079; 3056 sq.: “patronus, defensor, custos coloniae,” Cic. Sull. 21, 60; id. Div. in Caecil. 1, 2.—Of the former master of a freedman or freedwoman: “volo me placere Philolachi, meo patrono,” Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 11: civis Romani liberti hereditatem Lex XII. Tabularum patrono defert, si intestato sine suo herede libertus decesserit, Ulp. Fragm. tit. 29, § 1; cf. Gai. Inst. 3, 40; Cic. Fam. 13, 21, 2: “corrupti in dominos servi, in patronos liberti,” Tac. H. 2, 2.—
II. Transf., a defender before a court of justice, an advocate, pleader (syn.: “advocatus, causidicus, procurator, cognitor): judicis est semper in causis verum sequi, patroni nonnumquam verisimile, etiamsi minus sit verum, defendere,” Cic. Off. 2, 14, 51; id. de Or. 2, 69, 280: “patronus alicui causae constitui,” id. Mur. 2, 4; cf.: “his de causis ego huic causae patronus exstiti,” id. Rosc. Am. 2, 5; “Lex. Servil. lin. 9: patronus partis adversae,” Quint. 4, 1, 11; cf.: “patronus adversarii,” id. 4, 1, 11; Tac. Or. 1.—
B. In gen., a defender, advocate: “eam legem a vestrorum commodorum patrono esse conscriptam,” Cic. Agr. 3, 1, 3: “foederum ac foederatorum,” id. Balb. 10, 25: “justitiae,” id. Lael. 7 fin.: “qui modo patronus nunc cupit esse cliens,” Ov. A. A. 1, 88.—Comically: video ego te, propter malefacta qui es patronus parieti, i. e. standing like a patron in front of the wall (of one who, for fear of blows, places himself with his back to the wall, Plaut. Truc. 4, 3, 48; cf. id. Ps. 2, 2, 12. —As an affectionate and respectful form of address: “mi patrone, immo potius mi pater,” Plaut. Rud. 4, 8, 2; 16.