patient

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a person who requires medical care
  2. noun 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
  3. adjective enduring trying circumstances with even temper or characterized by such endurance

Etymology

From Middle English pacient, from Middle French patient, from Old French pacient, from Latin patiens, present participle of patior (“to suffer, endure”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₁- (“to hate, hurt”).

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