1  definition  found 
 
  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. 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words