patient

[ pey-shuhnt ]

noun

1. a person who is under medical care or treatment.

   Synonyms: invalid

2. a person or thing that undergoes some action.
3. Archaic. a sufferer or victim.

adjective

1. bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.

   Synonyms: uncomplaining, calm, passive, resigned, long-suffering

   Antonyms: hostile

2. characterized by or expressing such a quality:

   a patient smile.

   Synonyms: unexcited, composed, self-possessed, unruffled, serene, quiet

   Antonyms: agitated, impatient

3. quietly and steadily persevering or diligent, especially in detail or exactness:

   a patient worker.

   Synonyms: assiduous, sedulous

4. undergoing the action of another ( agent ).

patient

/ ˈpeɪʃənt /

adjective

1. enduring trying circumstances with even temper
2. tolerant; understanding
3. capable of accepting delay with equanimity
4. persevering or diligent

   a patient worker

5. archaic.
   admitting of a certain interpretation

noun

1. a person who is receiving medical care
2. rare.
   a person or thing that is the recipient of some action

Derived Forms

• ˈpatiently, adverb

Other Words From

• patient·less adjective
• patient·ly adverb
• patient·ness noun
• over·patient adjective
• quasi-patient adjective
• quasi-patient·ly adverb
• super·patient adjective
• super·patient·ly adverb
• un·patient adjective
• un·patient·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of patient¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English adjective and noun pacient, from Middle French, from Latin patient-, stem of patiēns, present participle of patī “to undergo, suffer, bear”; -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of patient¹

C14: see patience

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. patient of,
   1. having or showing the capacity for endurance:

      a man patient of distractions.

   2. susceptible of:

      This statement is patient of criticism.

Example Sentences

Doctors are prohibited from doing what a patient needs by rigid practice guidelines.

From The Daily Beast

For the individual patient, there is the potential for side effects or adverse reactions.

From The Daily Beast

This not only defrauds the state out of thousands of dollars, but also deprives the patient who needs the drugs.

From The Daily Beast

Within days of the first symptom, a headache, the patient was fighting for his life.

From The Daily Beast

No trained medical provider could possibly expect to nourish a patient this way.

From The Daily Beast

“But this is not a case of attending a patient, Baron,” said David Arden, a little haughtily.

From Project Gutenberg

But Yung Pak had long before learned to be patient under such circumstances.

From Project Gutenberg

Surely, since he had been patient so long without hope, he could be still more patient now that hope had dawned!

From Project Gutenberg

He glanced up and saw the face of the Bruder watching him with a smile of patient indulgence.

From Project Gutenberg

He told how the Korean farmer lived a simple, patient life, while at the same time he was ignorant and superstitious.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• calm
• forgiving
• gentle
• quiet
• tolerant