Editly Etymology: patience vs patients

The experts at Editly have become masters of commonly confused words over the course of their careers as editors, proofreaders, and AI humanizers. In Editly Etymology, they tap into their own experience to offer a closer look into the horrifying beauty of the English language. This installment investigates a classic of confusion: patience vs patients. 

Patience Definition

Patience is a noun that means the ability to wait or to continue doing something despite difficulties.

Patients Definition

Patients is a noun meaning people receiving medical treatment.

Did you catch that? Just to make sure, let’s ask AI to help us generate a visual representation of each of the words.

Patience = to wait or continue despite hardship.

Patients = people getting medical treatment.

Patience Root

Middle English, from Old French, from Latin.

Patients Root

Middle English, from Old French, from Latin.

Who is to Blame for this Confusion?

“Patients” and “patience” are in good company, as the Latins bear ultimate responsibility with the Old French helping along the way. 

AI Text on Patience

The word "patience" has a rich etymological history rooted in Latin and infused with significant philosophical and moral undertones. Here’s how "patience" evolved:

1. Latin Origins: "Patience" comes from the Latin "patientia," meaning the quality of suffering or enduring without complaint. "Patientia" is derived from "patiens," the present participle of "pati," which means to suffer or endure. This root is also the source of related words like "patient" (someone who suffers or endures, often in a medical context).
2. Old French Influence: The term was adopted into English from Old French "pacience" around the 12th century. The Old French word carried similar meanings, emphasizing endurance and the ability to bear hardships calmly and without complaint.
3. Middle English Development: In Middle English, "patience" retained these meanings and was commonly used in religious and philosophical texts to emphasize moral virtues. The concept of patience as a virtue was extensively explored in medieval Christian theology, often linked with the ability to endure suffering and delay gratification as signs of moral strength and spiritual maturity.
4. Modern Usage: Today, "patience" refers to the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. It is considered a valuable quality in many aspects of life, including personal relationships, professional settings, and individual growth.
5. Broader Cultural Significance: Over the centuries, the concept of patience has been esteemed in various cultural, philosophical, and religious contexts beyond Christianity, including in Buddhism, Islam, and secular philosophical traditions. It is often associated with wisdom and is thought to be a key component of successful interpersonal interactions and personal well-being.

The evolution of "patience" from its Latin origins to its current usage reflects a broadening and deepening of the concept from a simple ability to endure to a complex psychological and moral characteristic. It highlights how language can carry profound cultural and ethical values, evolving over time to meet the needs and reflections of society. (320 words)

Humanization of AI Text on Patience

With significant philosophical and moral undertones, "patience" has a rich etymological history rooted in Latin:

1. Latin Origins: "Patience" comes from the Latin "patientia," meaning the quality of suffering or enduring without complaint. "Patientia" is derived from "patiens," the present participle of "pati," meaning to suffer or endure. This root is also the source of related words like "patient."
2. Old French Influence: The Old French "pacience" carried similar meanings, emphasizing endurance and the ability to bear hardships without complaint.
3. Middle English Development: Adopted into English around the 12th century, "patience" retained these meanings and was commonly used in religious and philosophical texts to emphasize moral virtues and spiritual maturity.
4. Modern Usage: Today, "patience" refers to the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
5. Broader Cultural Significance: Over the centuries, the concept of patience has been esteemed in various cultural, philosophical, and religious contexts beyond Christianity, including Buddhism, Islam, and secular philosophical traditions. It is often associated with wisdom, successful interpersonal interactions, and personal well-being.

The evolution of "patience" from its Latin origins to its current usage reflects a broadening and deepening of the concept from a simple ability to endure to a complex psychological and moral characteristic. (208 words)

Result of Changing the AI Text to Human Text 

By getting rid of redundancy, irrelevancy, and repetition, the humanized content provides key information in a far clearer and more readable fashion. In fact, humanization has reduced the word count from 320 all the way down to 208 words—or by 35 percent—without losing any core meaning.

AI Text on Patients

The word "patients" is the plural form of "patient," referring to individuals receiving medical care or treatment. The etymology and evolution of "patient" as a noun are quite interesting and closely tied to its broader meanings of enduring and suffering. Here’s a look at how "patient" developed into its modern medical usage:

1. Latin Origins: The term "patient" as a noun comes from the Latin "patiens," which is the present participle of "pati," meaning to suffer or endure. This root word is also the source of the English word "patience," reflecting the capacity to endure hardship without complaint.
2. Medical Context in Latin: In Latin, "patiens" was used not only to describe someone who suffers but also specifically referred to someone suffering from disease or illness, thus needing medical attention.
3. Old French Influence: The word entered English from Old French "pacient," where it had already begun to specifically denote a person under medical care. The Old French term mirrored the Latin in both the general sense of one who suffers and the specific sense of a medical patient.
4. Middle English Development: By the Middle English period, "patient" was commonly used in English to refer to individuals receiving medical care. This usage solidified the term’s association with the field of medicine.
5. Modern Usage: Today, "patients" refers to people who are receiving or are registered to receive medical treatment. It encompasses individuals in various contexts—hospitals, clinics, dental practices, and any setting where medical care is provided.
6. Cultural and Philosophical Dimensions: Over time, the word "patients" has carried with it not only a clinical description but also a deeper reflection on the human condition—emphasizing vulnerability, the need for care, and the ethical responsibilities of healthcare providers.

The history of "patients" illustrates how a term can evolve from a broad application related to enduring suffering to a more specialized and culturally significant role within the context of healthcare. This shift highlights the dynamic interaction between language, culture, and professional practice. (332 words)

Humanization of AI Text on Patients

The word "patients" is the plural form of "patient," referring to individuals receiving medical care. Closely tied to its broader meanings of enduring and suffering, the etymology of "patient" as a noun is quite interesting:

1. Latin Origins: "Patient" as a noun comes from the Latin "patiens," the present participle of "pati," meaning suffer or endure.
2. Medical Context in Latin: "Patiens" was used not only to describe someone who suffers but also specifically referred to someone suffering from disease or illness.
3. Old French Influence: The word entered English from the Old French "pacient," where it had already begun to specifically denote a person under medical care.
4. Middle English Development: "Patient" was commonly used to refer to individuals receiving medical care, solidifying its association with medicine.
5. Modern Usage: "Patients" refers to people who are receiving or are registered to receive medical treatment.
6. Cultural and Philosophical Dimensions: Over time, "patients" has carried with it not only a clinical description but also a deeper reflection on the human condition—emphasizing vulnerability, the need for care, and the ethical responsibilities of healthcare providers.

The history of "patients" illustrates how a term can evolve from a broad application related to enduring suffering to a more specialized and culturally significant role within the context of healthcare. (215 words)

Effect of Humanizing the AI Text

Humanization has significantly enhanced the quality of the AI text, making it more concise through better diction (word choice) and the elimination of repetition and irrelevancy. Indeed, humanization has reduced the word count from 332 words to 215 words—or by more than 35 percent.

The Takeaway

Whether it’s for patience or patients, the best AI humanizer does, in fact, turn out to be a human. So, if you need any help to humanize your AI text, don’t wait to get started on Editly.