D defs.my
Menu ☰
Entry 5 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Pray

/prā/ · IPA /pɹeɪ/
01 n. & v. See Pry.
  1. 1.
    See Pry.[Obs.] See: Pry
02 v. i. To make request with earnestness or zeal, as for something desired; to make entreaty or supplication; to offer prayer to a deity or divine …
imp. & p. p. Prayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Praying
  1. 1.
    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, sir. why am I beaten?” — Shak.
Phrases & compounds
I 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.
Syn. To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition.
03 v. t. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to implore; to beseech.
  1. 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. 2.
    To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.
    “I know not how to pray your patience.” — Shak.
  3. 3.
    To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out of purgatory.
Phrases & compounds
To pray in aid — To call in as a helper one who has an interest in the cause