lettres patentes

Middle English

Alternative forms

• lettre patent, letters patentes, letres patentes, lettres patents, lettirs patentes

Etymology

From the plural of Anglo-Norman lettre patente (“open letter”), from Latin littera patens.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɛtrəs ˌpatɛntis/

Noun

lettres patentes pl (plural only)

1. A letter or letters conferring a privilege or status; letters patent.

Descendants

• English: letters patent (archaic letters patents)

References

• “patent(e, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.