保护圣徒, 守护神, 创始人, 最高典范

[ noun ]
a saint who is considered to be a defender of some group or nation
<noun.person>

Patron \Pa"tron\, a.
Doing the duty of a patron; giving aid or protection;
tutelary. --Dryden.

{Patron saint} (R. C. Ch.), a saint regarded as the peculiar
protector of a country, community, church, profession,
etc., or of an individual.

Patron \Pa"tron\, n. [F., fr. L. patronus, fr. pater a father.
See {Paternal}, and cf. {Patroon}, {Padrone}, {Pattern}.]
1. One who protects, supports, or countenances; a defender.
``Patron of my life and liberty.'' --Shak. ``The patron of
true holiness.'' --Spenser.

2. (Rom. Antiq.)
(a) A master who had freed his slave, but still retained
some paternal rights over him.
(b) A man of distinction under whose protection another
person placed himself.
(c) An advocate or pleader.

Let him who works the client wrong
Beware the patron's ire. --Macaulay.

3. One who encourages or helps a person, a cause, or a work;
a furtherer; a promoter; as, a patron of art.

4. (Eccl. Law) One who has gift and disposition of a
benefice. [Eng.]

5. A guardian saint. -- called also {patron saint}.

6. (Naut.) See {Padrone}, 2.

{Patrons of Husbandry}, the grangers. See {Granger}, 2.