lettres patentes
Middle English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From the plural of Anglo-Norman lettre patente (“open letter”), from Latin littera patens.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
lettres patentes pl (plural only)
- A letter or letters conferring a privilege or status; letters patent.
Descendants edit
- English: letters patent (archaic letters patents)
References edit
- “patent(e, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.