Lord's Prayer

8 2.9

A Christian prayer taught by Jesus that begins with "Our Father"

noun
/lɔrdz prɛər/

: Padre Nuestro

Now may we pray together the Lord's Prayer.
recite the Lord's Prayer

Examples

Then, as if reading my thoughts, she began reciting 'The Lord's Prayer.'

Fiction book (1996)
Let us repeat the Lord's Prayer.

The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1959)
Would you like to hear him say the Lord's Prayer?

The Campaign (2012)
Just enough time to say the Lord's Prayer.

A Lonely Place to Die (2011)
I learned the Lord's Prayer.

The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
I think we should say The Lord's Prayer.

Holy Smoke (1999)
Let us all join in the Lord's Prayer.

She's Having a Baby (1988)
I encourage you to say the Lord's Prayer often during this troubling season.

Blog text (4)
Sister Michael begins the Lord's Prayer, joined by the other nuns, and then by the campers.

Fiction book (1996)
Before we begin the service, let us all join in the Lord's Prayer.

Synonyms

prayer

vsLord's Prayer

187 1.7

A set of words said during a religious service

is the single specific text taught by Jesus rather than a general religious text

paternoster

vsLord's Prayer

Archaic

1 9.9

The Lord's Prayer said by Christians, often in Latin

is the original version taught by Jesus in the New Testament

Surface Forms

Lord's Prayer singular

Morphology

Lord's + prayer

The phrase composes straightforwardly from 'Lord's' (possessive of Lord/God) + 'prayer', so a learner who knows both words will understand it denotes a specific prayer belonging to the Lord. However, recognizing that this refers to the canonical prayer taught by Jesus beginning 'Our Father' requires extra cultural/religious knowledge beyond the literal constituents, so it is not fully transparent.

Etymology

The Lord's Prayer is the short model prayer Jesus taught his followers, beginning with 'Our Father'. Because this prayer came from the 'Lord' Jesus, it became known as the Lord's Prayer, and Christians often learn and say it as a basic prayer.