paten noun. ['pat(ǝ)n] Also patine. ME.
[Anglo-Norman var. of Old & mod. French patène or Latin patena, -ina shallow dish or pan from Greek patanē plate.]
1. Christian Church. A (usu. gold or silver) plate on which the host is laid during the Eucharist and which may serve as a cover for the chalice at the time of communion. ME.
b. gen. A shallow dish or plate. Now chiefly Hist. LME.

2. A thin metal disc. L16.

■ patener noun (Hist.) an acolyte who held up the empty paten during a part of high mass in medieval times M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲