pater

¹

[ pey-ter; pat-er ]

noun

1. British Informal. father.
2. (often initial capital letter) the paternoster; Lord's Prayer.
3. a recitation of it.

Pater

²

[ pey-ter ]

noun

1. Walter Horatio, 1839–94, English critic, essayist, and novelist.

pater

¹

/ ˈpeɪtə /

noun

1. facetious.
   a public school slang word for father

Pater

²

/ ˈpeɪtə /

noun

1. PaterWalter (Horatio)18391894MEnglishWRITING: essayistWRITING: critic Walter ( Horatio ). 1839–94, English essayist and critic, noted for his prose style and his advocation of the "love of art for its own sake". His works include the philosophical romance Marius the Epicurean (1885), Studies in the History of the Renaissance (1873), and Imaginary Portraits (1887)

Word History and Origins

Origin of pater¹

1300–50; Middle English < Latin: father

Word History and Origins

Origin of pater¹

from Latin

Example Sentences

He could also rail against the U.K.’s upper crust, as in this crisp but savage portrait of a privileged guy eager to “grab his father’s loot when pater passes on.”

From Los Angeles Times

The novel recounts the history and hardships of the Binewski clan, carnival folk whose pater- and materfamilias, Al and Crystal Lil, create their own freak show.

From Washington Post

For instance, we find closely matching terms in Latin with "pater," Sanskrit's "pitar" and in Greek with "patér" – all older languages that developed separately from the Germanic line.

From Salon

Most of the family members are there in merely supporting roles for the pater familias, although Don Jr might fancy a political career in the wake of daddy’s second – or third – term.

From The Guardian

The line “Strangled by the wishes of pater” is my dad screaming at me: “When are you going to get a decent job? Tidy up after yourself!”

From The Guardian