paternoster

[ pey-ter-nos-ter, pah‑, pat-er‑ ]

noun

1. (often initial capital letter) Also Pater Noster. 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) Architecture. pearl molding.

paternoster

¹

/ 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 calledpaternoster 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

Paternoster

²

/ ˌpætəˈnɒstə /

noun

1. the Lord's Prayer, esp in Latin
2. the recital of this as an act of devotion

Word History and Origins

Origin of paternoster¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of paternoster¹

Latin, literally: our father (from the opening of the Lord's Prayer)

Origin of paternoster²

see paternoster

Example Sentences

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

From Seattle Times

Robert and Thomas and the priest, whispering paternosters, followed the prints all the way to the mill where, crossing themselves, they unlatched the door.

From Literature

They are typically loaded in groups of about half a dozen onto something like a paternoster lift, which lowers them gradually into ever higher concentrations of the gas.

From BBC

The loop: down and back up There have been no new paternoster lifts installed since 1974, because of access problems and safety concerns.

From The Guardian

The building still has a working paternoster to its offices, one of those fabulous elevators with open cabins that never stop going up and down. 

From Forbes