Forms: 4–7 clyent, 6 cliant, 6–7 clyant, 4– client. [ad. L. cliens, client-em (also in 16th c. Fr. client), earlier cluens, ppl. sb. from cluĕre, cluēre to hear, listen, perh. in sense ‘one who is at the call of’ his patron.]
1. Rom. Antiq. A plebeian under the patronage of a patrician, in this relation called a patron (patrōnus), who was bound, in return for certain services, to protect his client’s life and interests.
1557. Paynel, Barclay’s Jugurth, 28. Noble men … hauyng mani clyentes and seruantes retayned with them.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., II. 167. How should the patrone condemne his owne clientes?
1647. R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 14. The client … was bound by law to contribute towards their patrons assessements, and the marriages of his daughters.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, I. ii. 133. Assassinated … by Pompey’s clients.
1834. Lytton, Pompeii, I. ii. 11. So, she is a sort of client of yours, this child.
2. gen. One who is under the protection or patronage of another, a dependant. Sometimes applied to one who pays constant court to an influential person as patron; a ‘hanger-on’; also, to the vassals or retainers of the middle ages.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 284. As he [love] is blinde him self, right so He maketh his client blinde also.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3195. First cald I ȝow my clyentis þat now I call lordis.
1568. Grafton, Chron. John, II. 109. The King was miserably compelled kneelyng on his knees to geve over both his croune and scepter to the Pope of Rome … and as his client, vassall, feodary, and tenant, to receyve it of him againe.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3). Vassal, slaue, clyant.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 49, ¶ 1. We are very Curious to observe the Behaviour of great Men and their Clients.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess. Self-Reliance, Wks. (Bohn), I. 25. Posterity seem to follow his steps as a train of clients.
b. An adherent or follower of a master.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 233. This Cardinal … fled oute of Rome with his clientis.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., II. viii. 114/2. The Doctrin of Galen and his Clients.
c. fig.
1608–11. Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit. (1851), 60. These flowers [Tulips, etc.] are true clients of the sun … in the morning, they welcome his rising … and at noon are fully displayed, in a free acknowledgment of his bounty.
3. spec. One who employs the services of a legal adviser in matters of law; he whose cause an advocate pleads.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, III. iv. (1483), 53. Ye wold putte your clyentes at the more cost in fyllynge of youre pourses.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 27. Pletyng of a cause for his client.
1592. Greene, Art Conny-catch., 1. When the clients are come from Westminster hall.
1598. Barkcley, Felic. Man, V. (1603), 385. They call them to whom they be counsellers, their Clyents.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., I. ii. 109. Good Counsellors lacke no Clients.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 28.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 312. The poor thy clients and Heaven’s smile thy fee.
1863. W. Phillips, Speeches, vi. 106. Our clients are three millions of Christian slaves.
1879. Harlan, Eyesight, i. 11. The lawyers have a saying that ‘the man who pleads his own case has a fool for a client.’
b. One who has a spiritual advocate.
1609. Bible (Douay), Pref. They … solicitous for us their dearest clientes, incessantly intercede before Christ’s Divine Majestie.
1857. P. Segneri (title), The Devout Client of Mary instructed in the Motives and Means of Serving Her Well.
4. gen. A person who employs the services of a professional or business man in any branch of business, or for whom the latter acts in his professional capacity; a customer. (In earlier use fig. from 1 or 2; now transf.)
1608. Shaks., Per., IV. vi. 6. When she [Marina] should do for clients her fitment … she has me her quirks, her reasons, her master reasons, [etc.].
1681. Glanvill, Sadducismus, II. (ed. 2), 31. The Negotiation of Evil Spirits with their Clients.
1872. E. Peacock, Mabel Heron, I. iii. 38. Clients, especially of the money-borrowing order, prefer a house not open to direct observation.
1884. Chr. Commonw., 28 Feb., 463/3. Neither does the old-fashioned literature of mediæval voluminousness command many clients among popular … readers.
1889. Star, 2 Sept., 4/3. The owner of Oxeye … a turf telegraphist … sent out this horse to all his clients.
