Etymology
Advertisement

paternoster (n.)

"the Lord's Prayer," Old English Pater Noster, from Latin pater noster "our father," the first words of the Lord's Prayer in Latin. Meaning "set of rosary beads" is by mid-13c. (originally it was the name of one of the larger beads). Paternoster Row, near St. Paul's in London (similarly named streets are found in other cathedral cities), reflects the once-important industry of rosary bead-making.

Entries linking to paternoster

patter (v.2)

"talk glibly or rapidly, chatter," mid-15c., from Middle English pateren "mumble prayers rapidly" (late 14c.), a shortened form of paternoster in allusion to the low, indistinct repetition of the prayer in churches. Perhaps influenced by patter (v.1). The related noun is first recorded 1758, originally "cant language of thieves and beggars," later "glib or fluent talk of a stage comedian, salesman, etc."  Compare piter-pater "a babbled prayer" (mid-15c.), also Devil's paternoster (1520s) "a grumbling and mumbling to oneself." A pattercove in 16c. canting slang was a strolling priest.

PATTERING. The maundering or pert replies of servants; also talk or palaver in order to amuse one intended to be cheated. [Grose, "Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue," 2nd edition. 1788]
[T]he Pater-noster, up to the time of the Reformation, was recited by the priest in a low voice as far as 'and lead us not into temptation' when the choir joined in. [John S. Farmer, "Musa Pedestris," 1896]
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of paternoster
1
paternoster (n.)
a type of lift having a chain of open compartments that move continually in an endless loop so that (agile) passengers can step on or off at each floor;
2
Paternoster (n.)
(Roman Catholic Church) the Lord's Prayer in Latin; translates as `our father';
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near paternoster

patent

paterfamilias

paternal

paternalism

paternity

paternoster

path

-path

Pathet Lao

pathetic

pathfinder

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper