Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pray       (prā)  Pronunciation Key  v.   prayed, pray·ing, prays v.   intr. To utter or address a prayer or prayers to God, a god, or another object of worship. To make a fervent request or entreaty. v.   tr. To utter or say a prayer or prayers to; address by prayer. To ask (someone) imploringly; beseech. Now often used elliptically for I pray you to introduce a request or entreaty: Pray be careful. To make a devout or earnest request for: I pray your permission to speak. To move or bring by prayer or entreaty. [Middle English preien, from Old French preier, from Latin precārī, from precē, pl. of *prex, prayer; see prek- in Indo-European roots.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
pray 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

pray
verb
1.	address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer; "pray to the Lord"
2.	call upon in supplication; entreat; "I beg you to stop!" [syn: beg]

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: pray
Function: transitive verb
: to ask for prays judgment against the defendants for actual damages> —used esp. in pleadings intransitive verb : to make a request of a court esp. in a complaint or petition prays for declaratory relief> <praying that the judgment be vacated>

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Pray, MT Zip code(s): 59065

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pray

Pray\, n. & v. See Pry. [Obs.] --Spenser.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pray

Pray\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Praying.] [OE. preien, OF. preier, F. prier, L. precari, fr. prex, precis, a prayer, a request; akin to Skr. prach to ask, AS. frignan, fr[=i]nan, fricgan, G. fragen, Goth. fra['i]hnan. Cf. Deprecate, Imprecate, Precarious.] To make request with earnestness or zeal, as for something desired; to make entreaty or supplication; to offer prayer to a deity or divine being as a religious act; specifically, to address the Supreme Being with adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving.

And to his goddess pitously he preyde. --Chaucer.

When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. --Matt. vi. 6.

I pray, or (by ellipsis) Pray, I beg; I request; I entreat you; -- used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go.

I pray, sir. why am I beaten? --Shak.

Syn: To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pray

Pray\, v. t. 1. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to implore; to beseech.

And as this earl was preyed, so did he. --Chaucer.

We pray you . . . by ye reconciled to God. --2 Cor. v. 20.

2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.

I know not how to pray your patience. --Shak.

3. To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out of purgatory. --Milman.

To pray in aid. (Law) (a) To call in as a helper one who has an interest in the cause. --Bacon. (b) A phrase often used to signify claiming the benefit of an argument. See under Aid. --Mozley & W.