patronize

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: pat=ron=ize

CIDE DICTIONARY

patronize, v. t. 

•  To act as patron toward; to support; to countenance; to favor; to aid.  [1913 Webster]

  "The idea has been patronized by two States only."  [1913 Webster]
•  To trade with customarily; to frequent as a customer.  [1913 Webster]
•  To assume the air of a patron, or of a superior and protector, toward; -- used in an unfavorable sense; as, to patronize one's equals.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

patronize, v.tr. (also -ise)
1 treat condescendingly.
2 act as a patron towards (a person, cause, artist, etc.); support; encourage.
3 frequent (a shop etc.) as a customer.

Derivative

patronization n. patronizer n. patronizing adj. patronizingly adv.

Etymology

obs. F patroniser or med.L patronizare (as PATRON)

THESAURUS

patronize

aid, angel, assist, back, bankroll, boost, bridle, capitalize, condescend, contemn, contribute to, deal with, demean, disdain, do business with, encourage, finance, foster, frequent, fund, grubstake, have dealings with, have truck with, help, humiliate, pay for, promote, provide for, put down, refinance, scorn, set up, shop at, sponsor, stake, subscribe to, subsidize, support, take up, toss the head, trade at, trade with, traffic with, transact business with, treat, underwrite

ROGET THESAURUS

patronize

Aid

VB aid, assist, help, succor, lend one's aid, come to the aid, of, contribute, subscribe to, bring aid, give aid, furnish aid, afford aid, supply aid, give a helping hand, stretch a hand, lend a helping hand, lend a hand, bear a helping hand, hold out a hand, hold out a helping hand, give one a life, give one a cast, give one a turn, take by the hand, take in tow, help a lame dog over a stile, lend wings to, relieve, rescue, set up, set agoing, set on one's legs, bear through, pull through, give new life to, be the making of, reinforce, reenforce, recruit, set forward, put forward, push forward, give a lift, give a shove, give an impulse to, promote, further, forward, advance expedite, speed, quicken, hasten, support, sustain, uphold, prop, hold up, bolster, cradle, nourish, nurture, nurse, dry nurse, suckle, put out to nurse, manure, cultivate, force, foster, cherish, foment, feed the flame, fan the flame, serve, do service to, tender to, pander to, administer to, subminister to, minister to, tend, attend, wait on, take care of, entertain, smooth the bed of death, oblige, accommodate, consult the wishes of, humor, cheer, encourage, second, stand by, back, back up, pay the piper, abet, work for, make interest for, stick up for, take up the cudgels for, take up the cause of, espouse the cause of, adopt the cause of, advocate, beat up for recruits, press into the service, squire, give moral support to, keep in countenance, countenance, patronize, lend oneself to, lend one's countenance to, smile upon, shine upon, favor, befriend, take in hand, enlist under the banners of, side with, be of use to, subserve, benefit, render a service, conduce.