Pattern and Patron Were the Same Word
A pattern is a repeated design or a model to copy. It began as a variant of patron, in the sense of something to be imitated.
A pattern is a repeated arrangement, or a model to work from. The word is a worn-down form of *patron*: a patron was someone to be imitated, and the sense of a model to copy split off into a separate word in the Middle Ages. Dressmaking keeps the older meaning exactly — a paper pattern is the model you cut around.
- A repeated decorative design. *A checked pattern.*
- A regular way things happen. *A pattern of behaviour.*
- A model to copy. *A dress pattern.*
- To follow a model. *Patterned on the French system.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | pattern | A floral pattern. |
| Plural | patterns | Weather patterns. |
| Verb | pattern | Patterned after it. |
| Adjective | patterned | Patterned wallpaper. |
| Related | patron | A patron of the arts. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The tiles form a repeating pattern.Design.
- A clear pattern emerged from the data.Regularity.
- She cut the pattern from newspaper.Sewing.
Pattern in different fields
- Textiles — the printed or woven design
- Sewing — the paper template
- Statistics — a regularity in data
- Software — a design pattern, a standard solution to a common problem
- Psychology — pareidolia, seeing patterns that are not there
From Old French *patron*, from Medieval Latin *patronus*, in the sense of a model. English kept both spellings and gave them separate jobs.
Are pattern and patron related?
Yes. Pattern is a variant spelling of patron that split off in meaning, keeping the sense of a model to be copied.
What is pareidolia?
The tendency to see meaningful patterns, especially faces, in random things such as clouds and wood grain.