paternoster

noun

pa·ter·nos·ter ˌpä-tər-ˈnä-stər

ˈpa-tər-ˌnä-stər;

ˈpä-ˌter-ˈnä-stər,

-ˈnä-ˌster

1

often capitalized : lord's prayer

2

: a word formula repeated as a prayer or magical charm

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, from Medieval Latin, from Latin pater noster our father, from the opening words

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of paternoster was before the 12th century

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Browse Nearby Words

paternoite

paternoster

paternoster lake

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Paternoster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paternoster. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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