paternoster

  1. Noun.  The Lord's prayer, especially in a Roman Catholic context.
  2. Noun.  (archaic) A rosary; a string of beads used in counting the prayers said.
  3. Noun.  A slow, continuously moving lift or elevator consisting of a loop of open fronted cabins running the height of a building. The moving compartment is entered at one level and left when the desired level is reached. Found in some university libraries. Named after the string of prayer beads due to their similar ararngement.
  4. Noun.  (archaic) A patent medicine. So named because the salesman would pray the Lord's prayer over it before selling it.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.