Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
letters patents. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
letters patents, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
letters patents in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
letters patents you have here. The definition of the word
letters patents will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
letters patents, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Noun
letters patents pl (plural only)
- Archaic form of letters patent.
1589, Richard Hakluyt, “Iohn Cabots Patent”, in The Principall Navigations, Voiages, and Discoveries of the English Nation, , London: George Bishop and Ralph Newberie, deputies to Christopher Barker, , →OCLC, page 509:The letters patents of king Henry the ſeuenth granted vnto Iohn Cabot and his three ſonnes, Lewis, Sebastian, and Sancius, for the discouerie of new and vnknowen lands.
1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 29, column 2:If you do wrongfully ſeize Herford's right, / call in his Letters Patents that he hath / By his Atturneyes generall, to ſue […]
1753, Alexander Pope, The Works of Alexander Pope Eſq., volume VII, London: J. and P. Knapton, page 176:(which I have kept as carefully as I would Letters Patents, ſince they intitle me to what I value more than titles of honour.)