Patient

Pa"tient (?), 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.

Patient of severest toil and hardship.
Bp. Fell.

2. Undergoing pains, trails, or the like, without murmuring or fretfulness; bearing up with equanimity against trouble; long-suffering.

3. Constant in pursuit or exertion; persevering; calmly diligent; as, patient endeavor.

Whatever I have done is due to patient thought.
Sir I. Newton.

4. Expectant with calmness, or without discontent; not hasty; not overeager; composed.

Not patient to expect the turns of fate.
Prior.

5. Forbearing; long-suffering.

Be patient toward all men.
1 Thess. v. 14.

Pa"tient, n. 1. ONe who, or that which, is passively affected; a passive recipient.

Malice is a passion so impetuous and precipitate that often involves the agent and the patient.
Gov. of Tongue.

2. A person under medical or surgical treatment; -- correlative to physician or nurse.

Like a physician, . . . seeing his patient in a pestilent fever.
Sir P. Sidney.

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.

Pa"tient, v. t. To compose, to calm. [Obs.] "Patient yourself, madam." Shak.