lettres patentes

Middle English

/ˈlɛtrəs ˌpatɛntis/

plural noun
Definitions
  • A letter or letters conferring a privilege or status; letters patent.

Etymology

Borrowed from lettre patente (open letter) derived from Latin littera patens (open letter).

Origin

Latin

littera patens

Gloss

open letter

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms