letters patent

English

Etymology

From earlier letters patents, from Middle English lettres patentes, from the plural of Anglo-Norman lettre patente, from Latin littera patens (literally “open letter”); so called because written on open sheets of parchment.

Noun

letters patent pl (plural only)

1. (law) A type of legal document in the form of an open letter issued by an authority granting a monopoly, right, status, or title to a person or organization.

   Antonym: letters close

Usage notes

The term is typically used in the plural form, even for a single document.

Alternative forms

• letter patent (rare)

Translations

type of legal document granting a monopoly, right, status, or title to a person or organization

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Finnish: patentti (fi), patenttikirja, lupakirja (fi), valtakirja (fi) (depending on the nature of the document)

• Latin: litterae patentēs f pl
• Middle English: lettres patentes, patent
• Spanish: patente de privilegio m, cédula de privilegio f

Noun

letters patent

1. plural of letter patent

Further reading

• letters patent on Wikipedia.Wikipedia