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pat

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

pat¹ / pat/ • v. (pat·ted , pat·ting ) [tr.] touch quickly and gently with the flat of the hand: he patted him consolingly on the shoulder| [tr.] a nurse washed her all over and patted her dry. ∎ draw attention to (something) by tapping it gently: he patted the bench beside him and I sat down. ∎ [tr.] mold into shape or put in position with gentle taps: she patted down the earth in each pot. • n. 1. a light stroke with the hand: giving him a friendly pat on the arm, she went off to join the others. 2. a compact mass of soft material: a pat of butter. PHRASES: a pat on the back an expression of approval or congratulation: they deserve a pat on the back for a job well done. pat someone on the back express approval of or admiration for someone: she needs her own claque to applaud and pat her on the back. pat² • adj. simple and somewhat glib or unconvincing: instead of enlightened minds I found prejudice and pat answers. • adv. at exactly the right moment or in the right way; conveniently or opportunely: the happy ending came rather pat. PHRASES: down patsee down¹. stand pat stick stubbornly to one's opinion or decision: many ranchers stood pat with the old strains of cattle. ∎ (in poker and blackjack) retain one's hand as dealt, without drawing other cards. DERIVATIVES: pat·ly adv. pat·ness n.

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"pat." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"pat." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-pat010.html

"pat." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-pat010.html

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pat

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

pat
A. (dial.) stroke. blow XIV; gentle stroke or tap XIX;

B. sound made by patting XVII;

C. small mass shaped by patting XVIII. imit., like (dial.) bat, of similar date; not evidenced XV–XVI and app. re-formed XVII from pat vb. strike XVI, tap or beat lightly XVII.
Hence pat adv. ‘with a fitting stroke’, aptly, opportunely; first in phr. hit pat.

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T. F. HOAD. "pat." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "pat." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pat.html

T. F. HOAD. "pat." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pat.html

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pat

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

pat at exactly the right moment or in the right way; very conveniently or opportunely.
have something off pat have something memorized perfectly.
stand pat stick stubbornly to one's opinion or decision; in the card games poker and blackjack standing pat is retaining one's hand as dealt, without drawing other cards.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "pat." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "pat." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-pat.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "pat." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-pat.html

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Pat

Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms | 1985 | Copyright

Pat

a small mass of soft substance, formed or shaped by patting.

Examples : pat of butter, 1754; of water, 1888.

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"Pat." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Pat." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301084.html

"Pat." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301084.html

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Pat

A Dictionary of First Names | 2006 | | Copyright

Pat ♂, ♀ Short form of both Patrick and Patricia.

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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Pat." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Pat." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Pat.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Pat." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Pat.html

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PAT

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

PAT n. see paroxysmal (atrial) tachycardia.

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"PAT." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"PAT." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-PAT.html

"PAT." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-PAT.html

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pat

pat •at, bat, brat, cat, chat, cravat, drat, expat, fat, flat, frat, gat, gnat, hat, hereat, high-hat, howzat, lat, mat, matt, matte, Montserrat, Nat, outsat, pat, pit-a-pat, plait, plat, prat, Rabat, rat, rat-tat, Sadat, sat, scat, Sebat, shabbat, shat, skat, slat, spat, splat, sprat, stat, Surat, tat, that, thereat, tit-for-tat, vat, whereat •fiat • floreat • exeat • caveat •Croat, Serbo-Croat •Nanga Parbat • brickbat • dingbat •combat, wombat •fruitbat • numbat • acrobat • backchat •whinchat • chitchat • samizdat •concordat • Arafat • Jehoshaphat •butterfat • Kattegat • hard hat •sun hat • fat cat • hellcat • requiescat •scaredy-cat • Magnificat • copycat •pussycat • wildcat • bobcat • tomcat •Sno-Cat • polecat • muscat • meerkat •mudflat • cervelat •doormat, format •diplomat • laundromat • Zermatt •Donat • cowpat

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"pat." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"pat." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-pat.html

"pat." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-pat.html

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