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letters patent

Syllabification: (let·ters pat·ent)
Pronunciation: /ˈpatnt/

Definition of letters patent

noun

  • an open document issued by a monarch or government conferring a patent or other right.

Origin:

late Middle English: from medieval Latin litterae patentes, literally 'letters lying open'

letters patent in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of letters patent in the British & World English dictionary

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