verb (used with object)
1.
to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to (God or an object of worship).
2.
to offer (a prayer).
3.
to bring, put, etc., by praying: to pray a soul into heaven.
4.
to make earnest petition to (a person).
5.
to make petition or entreaty for; crave: She prayed his forgiveness.
6.
to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to God or to an object of worship.
7.
to enter into spiritual communion with God or an object of worship through prayer.
verb (used without object)
8.
to make entreaty or supplication, as to a person or for a thing.
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Pray
is one of our favorite verbs.
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| to bark; yelp. |
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English preien < Old French preier ≪ Latin precārī to beg, pray, derivative of prex (stem prec-) prayer; akin to Old English fricgan, Dutch vragen, German fragen, Gothic fraihnan to ask
1250–1300; Middle English preien < Old French preier ≪ Latin precārī to beg, pray, derivative of prex (stem prec-) prayer; akin to Old English fricgan, Dutch vragen, German fragen, Gothic fraihnan to ask
Related forms
pray·ing·ly, adverb
out·pray, verb (used with object)
un·pray·ing, adjective
Synonyms
4. importune, entreat, supplicate, beg, beseech, implore.
4. importune, entreat, supplicate, beg, beseech, implore.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To pray
Collins
World English Dictionary
pray (preɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb (when intr, | |
| 1. | to utter prayers (to God or other object of worship): we prayed to God for the sick child |
| 2. | ( |
| 3. | rare (tr) to accomplish or bring by praying: to pray a soul into the kingdom |
| —interj | |
| 4. | archaic I beg you; please: pray, leave us alone |
| [C13: from Old French preier, from Latin precārī to implore, from prex an entreaty; related to Old English fricgan, Old High German frāgēn to ask, Old Norse fregna to enquire] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
pray
late 13c., "ask earnestly, beg," also "pray to a god or saint," from O.Fr. preier (c.900), from L. precari "ask earnestly, beg," from *prex (plural preces, gen. precis) "prayer, request, entreaty," from PIE base *prek- "to ask, request, entreat" (cf. Skt. prasna-, Avestan frashna- "question;" O.C.S.
prositi, Lith. prasyti "to ask, beg;" O.H.G. frahen, Ger. fragen, O.E. fricgan "to ask" a question).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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