[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

patronize \pa"tronize\, v. t. imp.  p. p. patronized; p.
   pr.  vb. n. patronizing.
   1. to act as patron toward; to support; to countenance; to
      favor; to aid.
      1913 webster

            the idea has been patronized by two states only.
                                                  --a. hamilton.
      1913 webster

   2. to trade with customarily; to frequent as a customer.
      commercial cant
      1913 webster

   3. to assume the air of a patron, or of a superior and
      protector, toward; -- used in an unfavorable sense; as, to
      patronize one's equals.
      1913 webster
see also:
patronized patronizing 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

patronize
     v 1: assume sponsorship of syn: sponsor, patronise
     2: do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or
        client of syn: patronise, shop, shop at, buy at,
        frequent, sponsor ant: boycott, boycott
     3: treat condescendingly syn: patronise, condescend
     4: 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: patronise, patronage, support, keep
        going
see also:
sponsor patronise shop shop at buy at frequent 
boycott condescend patronage support keep going 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

46 moby thesaurus words for "patronize":
   aid, angel, assist, back, bankroll, boost, bridle, capitalize,
   condescend, contemn, contribute to, deal with, demean, disdain,
   do business with, encourage, finance, foster, frequent, fund,
   grubstake, have dealings with, have truck with, help, humiliate,
   pay for, promote, provide for, put down, refinance, scorn, set up,
   shop at, sponsor, stake, subscribe to, subsidize, support, take up,
   toss the head, trade at, trade with, traffic with,
   transact business with, treat, underwrite

Patronize >> P Words
Patronize, definition of term: Patronize
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