pat
verb
[ pat ]
• touch quickly and gently with the flat of the hand.
• "he patted him consolingly on the shoulder"
Similar:
tap,
slap lightly,
clap,
dab,
touch,
stroke,
pet,
caress,
fondle,
rub,
pat
noun
• a quick, light touch with the hand.
• "giving him a friendly pat on the arm, she went off to join the others"
• a compact mass of soft material.
• "a pat of butter"
Similar:
piece,
dab,
lump,
portion,
knob,
mass,
cake,
chunk,
wedge,
hunk,
ball,
curl,
gobbet,
clod,
gob,
Origin:
late Middle English (as a noun denoting a blow with something flat): probably imitative. The verb dates from the mid 16th century.
pat
adjective
• simple and somewhat glib or unconvincing.
• "there are no pat answers to these questions"
pat
adverb
• at exactly the right moment or in the right way; very conveniently or opportunely.
• "the happy ending came rather pat"
Similar:
opportunely,
conveniently,
advantageously,
expediently,
usefully,
beneficially,
favourably,
profitably,
appropriately,
fittingly,
suitably,
aptly,
timely,
auspiciously,
luckily,
happily,
providentially,
felicitously,
seasonably,
propitiously,
Origin:
late 16th century: related to pat1; apparently originally symbolic: a frequently found early use was hit pat (i.e. hit as if with flat blow).
Pat
noun
• an Irishman (often as a form of address).
Origin:
early 19th century: abbreviation of the male given name Patrick.
Pat.
abbreviation
• Patent.
