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cli·ent

(klīənt)

1. The party for which professional services are rendered, as by an attorney.

2. A customer or patron: clients of the hotel.

3. A person using the services of a social services agency.

4. One that depends on the protection of another.

5. A client state.

6. Computers A computer or program that can download files for manipulation, run applications, or request application-based services from a file server.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin cliēns, client-, dependent, follower; see klei- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

client·age (-ən-tĭj) n.

cli·ental (klī-ĕntl, klīən-) adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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