DEFINITION of 'Patent'. A government license that gives the holder exclusive rights to a process, design or new invention for a designated period of time. Applications for patents are usually handled by a government agency. In the U.S. the United States Patent and Trademark Office handles application and documentation. Next Up.
Definition of attendant - a person employed to provide a service to the public in a particular place, a person who is present on a particular occasion Definition of attendant - a person employed to provide a service to the public in a particular place, a person who is present on a particular occasion dictionary thesaurus
An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court is near in rank to the Chief Justice. A surgeon's assistant is a physician or medical student who shares in the treatment and care of patients; a surgeon's attendant is one who rolls bandages and the like. Follower, henchman, retainer are persons especially devoted to a chief, and generally bound to him by necessity, fee, or reward.