Patronus meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

Patronus

noun

Etymology From Latin patrōnus (“protector”). A reference to J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series; the term first appears in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999). Doublet of padrone, patron, patroon, and pattern.

A person considered one’s protector.

Black women are my patronus, and surrounding myself with villages of black women has been my biggest form of self-care.2017, Luvvie Ajayi, “Know Your Worth”, in Beverly Bond, editor, Black Girls Rock!: Owning Our Magic. Rocking Our Truth., 37 INK/Atria Books, →ISBN, page 64, column 2:
The day after the last episode of Totally Biased aired in November 2013, I found out that the head of MSNBC was interested in meeting with me. Rachel Maddow, who I consider my Patronus, had set it up.2017, W. Kamau Bell, “My Awkward Joking Around with the KKK”, in The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama’s Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian, Dutton, →ISBN:

4 more examples

For my dear, dear #Witchlanders, you are my patronus. Real talk here: you are my guardians against the darkness. You’re the reason I keep writing every day, the reason I didn’t give up even when this book almost killed me, the reason I want to tell this story at all.2017, Susan Dennard, “Acknowledgments”, in Windwitch, Tor, published 2018, →ISBN:
That’s what I love about her: she confronts her fears. She’s my Patronus.2019, Rafi Mittlefehldt, chapter IX, in What Makes Us, Candlewick Press, →ISBN, page 132:
My Patronus Agent Gemini Twin, Barbara Poelle: For never giving up on me.2019, James Brandon, “Acknowledgments”, in Ziggy, Stardust and Me, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, published 2022:
She’s my patronus. When I can’t deal with real life, I escape into her virtual space, where everything is perfectly lit, perfectly coifed, and perfectly accompanied by neo-soul music I never hear anywhere but natural hair videos and the beauty supply shop.2020, Bethany C. Morrow, A Song Below Water, Tor Teen, published 2021, →ISBN:

Something associated with a person, usually an animal.

When I’ve got something good between my teeth, I shake it until it gives in. My Patronus is a terrier. It’s like I can see the glinting prize at the end of the race, far in the distance.2016, Lila Monroe, Head Over High Heels:
Rocking jeans and a sinfully tight black T-shirt with a cartoon of a cute sea cow that said “My Patronus Is a Manatee,” Landon walked the few steps to the truck.2019, Lucy Lakestone, Bohemia Chills, Velvet Petal Press, →ISBN:

4 more examples

“Do you like Chinese food?” “Love it. Peking duck is my Patronus. I didn’t realize there was a Chinese restaurant in town, however.”2020, Laura Jensen Walker, Murder Most Sweet: A Bookish Baker Mystery, Crooked Lane Books, →ISBN:
I am 16 years old. My patronus is a unicorn and I literally talk to moon and love the croissant crescent. I love to talk about fireflies, stars and books.2020, Sanchi, “Sanchi”, in Krittika Pahwa, compiler, The Edge of Seventeen, The Little Booktique Hub, →ISBN, page 44:
I’d purposely go slowly rather than rushing through it since the speed of my body often affects the speed of my brain.* […] * I’m pretty sure my Patronus is a feral cat.2020, Kendra Adachi, “Build the Right Routines”, in The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t, and Get Stuff Done, WaterBrook, →ISBN, page 83:
I look at the trees and think, Yes, I do like trees the way Nuah described me to Khadija. They’ve been around for millions of years, seen tons of crap, and still stand strong and graceful, sure of their worth to the world. “Fighting makes you smile, huh?” Layth says, interrupting my trees-are-my-Patronus aha moment.2021, S. K. Ali, Misfit in Love, Salaam Reads, →ISBN, pages 120–121: