I. ˈpa]d.ə(r)ˌnästə(r), ]tə- also ˈpä] or ˈpȧ] or -nȯs- or ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷; |pä]ˌterˈnȯˌste(ə)r, |pȧ], ˌteəˈnȯˌsteə(r or +V -ste(ə)r, -näˌ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Latin pater noster our father, the 1st 2 words of the Lord's Prayer
1. often capitalized : a recital of the Lord's Prayer in any language especially in Latin
say ten paternosters
2.
a. : one of the large beads of a rosary on which the Lord's Prayer is said
b. obsolete
(1) : a string with knots or beads for counting the repetitions of the Lord's Prayer
(2) : rosary
3. : something resembling a rosary:
a. : a beadwork ornament in architectural moldings
b. or paternoster line : a fishing line with a row of hooks and bead-shaped sinkers
4. : a repetitious word formula muttered or repeated as a prayer or magical charm
the mystic syllables, O-Mi-T'o Fo … the Buddhist paternoster
II. pronunc before semicolon at paternoster I intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to fish with a paternoster