letters patent

plural noun

Law.

a written or printed instrument issued by a sovereign power, conferring upon a patentee some right, as the exclusive right to land or the exclusive right to make, use, and sell an invention for a limited time.

letters patent

plural noun

See patent

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Word History and Origins

Origin of letters patent¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The earliest known reference to "the Usher to the Order of the Garter" is in letters patent - a written order from a monarch granting an office, right or title to an individual - from 1361.

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On Wednesday, the parchment letters patent were presented to the mayor Tim Young.

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Prince Charles will visit Southend later to present a letters patent to grant the town city status.

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On 5 June 1925 King George V visited Stoke-on-Trent gave it the status of city by royal letters patent, she said.

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To alter this, the queen issued a “letters patent” in 2012 so that Prince William and his wife, Catherine — aka the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — could name all their children princes or princesses.

From

letterspace letters testamentary

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