patriot
nounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈpeɪ.tɹi.ət//
- United Kingdom//ˈpæt.ɹi.ət//
- Canada//ˈpeɪ.tɹi.ət//
- Australia//ˈpæɪ.tɹi.ət//
A person who loves and zealously supports and defends their country.
noun
- 1
A person who loves and zealously supports and defends their country.
Here Tears ſhall flovv from a more gen'rous Cauſe, / Such Tears as Patriots ſhed for dying Lavvs: […]
'My country, right or wrong,' is a thing that no patriot would think of saying except in a desperate case. It is like saying, 'My mother, drunk or sober.'
The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war.
Good thing there are loads of courageous anti-tax patriots (like Michelle Malkin!) willing to organize teabaggy protests designed to bring about a brave new world without bailouts, welfare, wars, or red tape […]
- 2
archaicA fellow countryman, a compatriot.
The aim of patriots, therefore, was to set limits to the power which the ruler should be allowed to exercise over the community.
Etymology
From Middle French patriote, from Late Latin patriōta (“fellow countryman”) from the Ancient Greek πατριώτης (patriṓtēs, “of the same country”), from πατρίς (patrís, “father land", "country”), from πατήρ (patḗr, “father”).
Forms
- plural
- patriots
patriot · A person who loves and zealously supports and defends their country.
Patriot · A surface-to-air missile system.patriotic · Inspired by or showing patriotism; done out of love of one's…patriotism · Love of one's country; devotion to the welfare of one's…