patient
    adj 1: 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" [ant: impatient]
    n 1: a person who requires medical care; "the number of
         emergency patients has grown rapidly"
    2: 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 [syn: affected role, patient role,
       patient]

Patient \Pa"tient\, n.
   1. One who, or that which, is passively affected; a passive
      recipient.
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            Malice is a passion so impetuous and precipitate
            that it often involves the agent and the patient.
                                                  --Gov. of
                                                  Tongue.
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   2. A person under medical or surgical treatment; --
      correlative to physician or nurse.
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            Like a physician, . . . seeing his patient in a
            pestilent fever.                      --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.
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   In patient, a patient who receives lodging and food, as
      treatment, in a hospital or an infirmary.

   Out patient, one who receives advice and medicine, or
      treatment, from an infirmary.
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Patient \Pa"tient\ (p[=a]"shent), a. [F., fr. L. patiens,
   -entis, p. pr. of pati to suffer. Cf. Pathos, Passion.]
   1. Having the quality of enduring; physically able to suffer
      or bear.
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            Patient of severest toil and hardship. --Bp. Fell.
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   2. Undergoing pains, trials, or the like, without murmuring
      or fretfulness; bearing up with equanimity against
      trouble; long-suffering.
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   3. Constant in pursuit or exertion; persevering; calmly
      diligent; as, patient endeavor.
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            Whatever I have done is due to patient thought.
                                                  --Sir I.
                                                  Newton.
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   4. Expectant with calmness, or without discontent; not hasty;
      not overeager; composed.
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            Not patient to expect the turns of fate. --Prior.
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   5. Forbearing; long-suffering.
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            Be patient toward all men.            --1 Thess. v.
                                                  14.
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Patient \Pa"tient\, v. t.
   To compose, to calm. [Obs.] "Patient yourself, madam."
   --Shak.
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