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pray |
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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