'Pray' definitions:
Definition of 'pray'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'Pray'
From: GCIDE
- 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[imac]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. [1913 Webster]
- And to his goddess pitously he preyde. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- I pray, sir. why am I beaten? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Pray'
From: GCIDE
- 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[imac]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. [1913 Webster]
- And to his goddess pitously he preyde. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- I pray, sir. why am I beaten? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Pray'
From: GCIDE
- Pray \Pray\, v. t.
- 1. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to implore; to beseech. [1913 Webster]
- And as this earl was preyed, so did he. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- We pray you . . . by ye reconciled to God. --2 Cor. v. 20. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for. [1913 Webster]
- I know not how to pray your patience. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out of purgatory. --Milman. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'pray'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- adjure,
- appeal,
- appeal to,
- apply to,
- ask,
- be good enough,
- beg,
- beseech,
- brace,
- call for help,
- call on,
- call upon,
- circulate a petition,
- clamor for,
- commune with God,
- conjure,
- crave,
- cry for,
- cry on,
- cry to,
- do,
- entreat,
- give thanks,
- have the goodness,
- I beg you,
- if you please,
- impetrate,
- implore,
- importune,
- imprecate,
- invoke,
- kneel to,
- make supplication,
- memorialize,
- obtest,
- offer a prayer,
- petition,
- plead,
- plead for,
- plead with,
- please,
- pray do,
- pray over,
- prefer a petition,
- prithee,
- recite the rosary,
- request,
- return thanks,
- run to,
- say grace,
- sign a petition,
- solicit,
- sue,
- supplicate,
- will you