Definition of PATIENT

patient

Meanings

Plural: patients

Noun

  • a person who requires medical care
    • "the number of emergency patients has grown rapidly"
  • the semantic role of an entity that is not the agent but is directly involved in or affected by the happening denoted by the verb in the clause
  • A person or animal that receives health care from a doctor, nurse, dentist, allied health practitioner, or other person educated in health care.
  • The noun or noun phrase that is semantically on the receiving end of a verb's action.
  • One who, or that which, is passively affected; a passive recipient.

Adjective

  • enduring trying circumstances with even temper or characterized by such endurance
    • "a patient smile"
    • "was patient with the children"
    • "an exact and patient scientist"
    • "please be patient"

Adj

  • Willing to wait if necessary; not losing one's temper while waiting.
  • Constant in pursuit or exertion; persevering; calmly diligent.
  • Physically able to suffer or bear.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English pacient, from Middle French patient, from Old French pacient, from Latin patiens, present participle of patior (“to suffer, endure”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₁- (“to hate, hurt”).

Synonyms

affected role, composed, patient role

Antonyms

;, agent, antsy, doer, impatient, macrophobic

Scrabble Score: 9

patient is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
patient is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
patient is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

patient is a valid Words With Friends word