paten, patIne, pateyn

[O. Fr. patene, from Low Lat. paten a =a paten, from Lat. paten a, patina a wide, shallow basin or bowl, from Gr. patane a kind of flat dish, from petannymi =to be open.] *1. Ord . Lang .: A plate, as of metal. "The floor of heav'n Is thick inlaid with patens of bright gold." Shakesp.: Merchant of Venice, v. 2. Eccles.: A plate used from early Christian times to receive the Host consecrated at Ma . At first the paten was made of gla , but the use of this material was forbidden in the sixth century. In England it was often made of the le precious metals, though gold or silver should properly be employed. Larger patens, called ministeria les , were used to hold the small Hosts for the communion of the laity. In the Roman Church the paten is consecrated by the bishop with chrism, and evi dence exists that this rite was in use in the eighth century.