To touch or strike gently with the hand or fingers, typically in a repetitive manner. Can also mean exactly suitable or appropriate when used as an adjective.
From Middle English 'patten', possibly imitative of the sound of light touching. The word has remained relatively unchanged in form and meaning since the 14th century, suggesting its onomatopoetic origin.
The word 'pat' beautifully demonstrates how language can be both physical and metaphorical - we 'pat' someone on the back literally for comfort, but also figuratively give ourselves a 'pat on the back' for achievements. The phrase 'pat answer' suggests something too neat or rehearsed, showing how this gentle action evolved to describe overly simplistic responses.
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