different between pather vs patter

English

Etymology

path +? -er

Noun

pather (plural pathers)

1. (computer games) A non-player character that walks a repeating path.

Anagrams

• Tharpe, hapter, tephra, teraph, threap

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?pæt?/
• Rhymes: -æt?(r)

Etymology 1

1610s, pat +? -er (“frequentative (indicating repeated action)”), of (onomatopoeia) origin.

Noun

patter (plural patters)

1. A soft repeated sound, as of rain falling, or feet walking on a hard surface.

   I could hear the patter of mice running about in the dark.

Translations

Derived terms

• pattersome
• pitter-patter

Verb

patter (third-person singular simple present patters, present participle pattering, simple past and past participle pattered)

1. To make irregularly repeated sounds of low-to-moderate magnitude and lower-than-average pitch.

   The bullets pattered into the log-cabin walls.

   • The stealing shower […] 'Tis scarce to patter heard.

2. To spatter; to sprinkle.
   • 1819 (published in 1835) Joseph Rodman Drake, s:The Culprit Fay

     Patter the water about the boat.

Translations

Etymology 2

Circa 1400, from paternoster (“the Lord's prayer”), possibly influenced by imitative sense (above), Latin pater (“father”), from Proto-Indo-European *ph?t?r.

Noun attested 1758, originally referring to the cant of thieves and beggers.

Noun

patter (countable and uncountable, plural patters)

1. Glib and rapid speech, such as from an auctioneer or a sports commentator.
   • 1887, Gilbert and Sullivan, "My Eyes Are Fully Open", Ruddigore

     This particularly rapid, unintelligible patter isn't generally heard, and if it is it doesn't matter.

Translations

Derived terms

• Glasgow patter

Verb

patter (third-person singular simple present patters, present participle pattering, simple past and past participle pattered)

1. To speak glibly and rapidly, as does an auctioneer or a sports commentator.
   • 1851, Henry Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor

     I've gone out and pattered […] to get money.

2. (intransitive, obsolete) To repeat the Lord's Prayer.
3. (intransitive, obsolete) To pray.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To repeat hurriedly; to mutter.

Translations

Etymology 3

pat +? -er (“agent”)

Noun

patter (plural patters)

1. One who pats.
   • 1981, Jackie Cooper, Richard Kleiner, Please Shoot Dog (page 50)

     I used to hate head patters, and I have realized that all children dislike being patted on the head.

References

Anagrams

• Pratte, p'tater

Norwegian Bokmål

Noun

patter m

1. indefinite plural of patte

Norwegian Nynorsk

Alternative forms

• pattar

Noun

patter

1. indefinite feminine plural of patte