LETTERS PATENT

letters patent. 1. Hist. A document granting some right or privilege, issued under governmental seal but open to public inspection. — Also termed literae patentes (lit-[schwa]r-ee p[schwa]-ten-teez). Cf. LETTERS SECRET. 2. A governmental grant of the exclusive right to use an invention or design. — Also termed (in both senses) patent deed. See PATENT(2). [Cases: […]