paternoster

American  

[pey-ter-nos-ter, pah‑, pat-er‑] / ˈpeɪ tərˈnɒs tər, ˈpɑ‑, ˈpæt ər‑ /

noun

1. (often initial capital letter) Also Pater Noster. the Lord's Prayer, especially in the Latin form.

2. a recitation of this prayer as an act of worship.

3. one of certain beads in a rosary, regularly every 11th bead, differing in size or material from the rest and indicating that the Lord's Prayer is to be said.

4. any fixed recital of words used as a prayer or magical charm.

5. a doorless, continuously moving elevator for passengers or goods, having numerous platforms or compartments that rise or descend on a moving chain.

6. (initial capital letter) pearl molding.

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paternoster ¹ British  

/ ˌpætəˈnɒstə /

noun

1. RC Church the beads at the ends of each decade of the rosary marking the points at which the Paternoster is recited

2. any fixed form of words used as a prayer or charm

3. Also called: paternoster line.  a type of fishing tackle in which short lines and hooks are attached at intervals to the main line

4. a type of lift in which platforms are attached to continuous chains. The lift does not stop at each floor but passengers enter while it is moving

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Paternoster ² British  

/ ˌpætəˈnɒstə /

noun

1. the Lord's Prayer, esp in Latin

2. the recital of this as an act of devotion

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Etymology

Origin of paternoster

before 1000; Middle English, Old English: Lord's prayer < Latin pater noster our father, its first two words in the Vulgate (Matthew VI: 9

Example Sentences

Such so-called paternoster elevators still survive in some German public buildings.

From Seattle Times • May 25, 2023

It warns of the “risk of being crushed … between car and landing”, and states that the paternoster is only to be ridden “at the user’s own risk”.

From The Guardian • Aug. 14, 2015

The loop: from the top The paternoster has been dubbed the ‘socialist among elevators’.

From The Guardian • Aug. 14, 2015

As the paternoster cabin in which he was slowly descending into the bowels of Stuttgart’s town hall plunged into darkness, Dejan Tuco giggled infectiously.

From The Guardian • Aug. 14, 2015

Good counsel is precious here; and if you know more than your paternoster, now is the time to show it.

From The Childhood of King Erik Menved An Historical Romance by Ingemann, Bernhard Severin