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pry

 - 6 dictionary results
Pyr
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pry

1  [prahy] verb, pried, pry⋅ing, noun, plural pries.
Use pry in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to inquire impertinently or unnecessarily into something: to pry into the personal affairs of others.
2. to look closely or curiously; peer; peep.
–noun
3. an impertinently inquisitive person.
4. an act of prying.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME pryen, prien < ?
Pyr
Don’t miss trading opportunities. Get tomorrow’s news today!
www.Investors.com
Prey
Save the earth from aliens in Prey. Buy & download directly to your PC
www.GamersGate.com

pry

2  [prahy] verb, pried, pry⋅ing, noun, plural pries.
–verb (used with object)
1. to move, raise, or open by leverage.
2. to get, separate, or ferret out with difficulty: to pry a secret out of someone; We finally pried them away from the TV.
–noun
3. a tool, as a crowbar, for raising, moving, or opening something by leverage.
4. the leverage exerted.
Origin:
1800–10; back formation from prize 3 , taken as a pl. n. or 3rd pers. sing. verb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pry
pry 1   (prī)   
intr.v.   pried (prīd), pry·ing, pries (prīz)
To look or inquire closely, curiously, or impertinently: was always prying into the affairs of others.
n.   pl. pries (prīz)

  1. The act of prying.

  2. An excessively or impertinently inquisitive person.


[Middle English prien.]
pry 2   (prī)   
tr.v.   pried (prīd), pry·ing, pries (prīz)

  1. To raise, move, or force open with a lever.

  2. To obtain with effort or difficulty: pried a confession out of the suspect.

n.   pl. pries (prīz)
Something, such as a crowbar, that is used to apply leverage.

[Alteration of prize3.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

pry  (1)
"look inquisitively," 1307, from prien "to peer in," of unknown origin, perhaps from O.E. bepriwan "to wink."

pry  (2)
"raise by force," 1823 (originally also a noun, "an instrument for prying, a crowbar"), alteration of prize (as though it were a plural) in obsolete sense of "lever" (c.1300), from O.Fr. prise "a taking hold, grasp" (see prize (n.2)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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