Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Patronage \Pa"tron*age\, n. [F. patronage. Cf. LL. patronaticum,
   and L. patronatus.]
   1. Special countenance or support; favor, encouragement, or
      aid, afforded to a person or a work; as, the patronage of
      letters; patronage given to an author.

   2. Business custom. [Commercial Cant]

   3. Guardianship, as of a saint; tutelary care. --Addison.

   4. The right of nomination to political office; also, the
      offices, contracts, honors, etc., which a public officer
      may bestow by favor.

   5. (Eng. Law) The right of presentation to church or
      ecclesiastical benefice; advowson. --Blackstone.

Patronage \Pa"tron*age\, v. t.
   To act as a patron of; to maintain; to defend. [Obs.] --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

patronage
     n 1: the act of providing approval and support; "his vigorous
          backing of the conservatives got him in trouble with
          progressives" [syn: {backing}, {backup}, {championship}]
     2: customers collectively; "they have an upper class clientele"
        [syn: {clientele}, {business}]
     3: a communication that indicates lack of respect by
        patronizing the recipient [syn: {condescension}, {disdain}]
     4: (politics) granting favors or giving contracts or making
        appointments to office in return for political support
     5: the business given to a commercial establishment by its
        customers; "even before noon there was a considerable
        patronage" [syn: {trade}]
     v 1: support by being a patron of
     2: be a regular customer or client of; "We patronize this
        store"; "Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long
        as he could" [syn: {patronize}, {patronise}, {support}, {keep
        going}]