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pat·ter²

(pătər)

v. pat·tered, pat·ter·ing, pat·ters

v.intr.

1. To speak or chatter glibly and rapidly.

2. To mumble prayers in a mechanical manner.

v.tr.

To utter in a glib, rapid, or mechanical manner.

1. The jargon of a particular group; cant.

2. Glib rapid speech, as of an auctioneer, salesperson, or comedian.

3. Meaningless talk; chatter.

[Middle English pateren, shortening and alteration of paternoster, paternoster (from the mechanical and rapid recitation of the prayer); see PATERNOSTER.]

patter·er n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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