Law Dictionary

patent

French patent; Latin patere, to lie open. Open to inspection; not closed by sealing. A "patent" is is a grant by the crown or government. Grants by the king of lands, honors, liberties, franchises, etc., are contained in charters or letters patent, that is, open letters: not sealed up, but exposed to view and addressed to his subjects at large. Other letters of the king, directed to particular persons, and for special purposes, not being proper for public inspection, are closed up and sealed on the outside: writs close, and recorded in the close-rolls, as others are in the patent-rolls.

Source : William C. Anderson, A Dictionary of Law (1893)

Language : English

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