Ater is an Old Testament man's name meaning shut or lame. 1. * A descendant of Hezekiah, who returned from Babylon Ezra 2:16; Nehemiah 7:21 2. * An Israelite, who subscribed to Nehemiah’s covenant Nehemiah 10:17 3. * A porter Ezra 2:42; Nehemiah 7:45 4. * An old town in Bhind District, India Ater is also a Latin adjective meaning "black, dark, gloomy, dismal or malicious".