Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

Patient \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.

Patient \Pa"tient\, v. t.
   To compose, to calm. [Obs.] ``Patient yourself, madam.''
   --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

patient
     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
     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}]
     2: enduring without protest or complaint