pattern

The story

1. Medieval Latin · derived frompatrōnus“patron”
2. Old French · derived frompatron
3. Middle English · inherited frompatron“patron; example”
4. English todaypattern

From earlier patten, paterne, from Middle English patron (“patron; example”), from Old French patron, from Medieval Latin patrōnus (“patron”). Doublet of padrone, patron, Patronus, and patroon.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. Something from which a copy is made; a model or outline.
• from 15th c. Someone or something seen as an example to be imitated; an exemplar.
• from 15th c. A copy.
• from 16th c. A sample; of coins, an example which was struck but never minted.
• from 16th c. A representative example.
• from 17th c. The material needed to make a piece of clothing.
• from 16th c. A design, motif or decoration, especially formed from regular repeated elements.
• from 19th c. A naturally-occurring or random arrangement of shapes, colours etc. which have a regular or decorative effect.