6  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Pray  \Pray\,  n.  &  v. 
  See  {Pry}.  [Obs.]  --Spenser. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  pray 
  v  1:  address  God;  say  a  prayer 
  2:  call  upon  in  supplication;  entreat;  "I  beg  you  to  stop!" 
  [syn:  {beg},  {implore}] 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Pray,  MT 
  Zip  code(s):  59065 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  PRAY,  v.  To  ask  that  the  laws  of  the  universe  be  annulled  in  behalf 
  of  a  single  petitioner  confessedly  unworthy. 
 
 

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