pray

[prey] /preɪ/
verb (used with object)
1.
to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to (God or an object of worship).
2.
to offer (a prayer).
3.
to bring, put, etc., by praying:
to pray a soul into heaven.
4.
to make earnest petition to (a person).
5.
to make petition or entreaty for; crave:
She prayed his forgiveness.
6.
to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc., to God or to an object of worship.
7.
to enter into spiritual communion with God or an object of worship through prayer.
verb (used without object)
8.
to make entreaty or supplication, as to a person or for a thing.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English preien < Old French preier ≪ Latin precārī to beg, pray, derivative of prex (stem prec-) prayer; akin to Old English fricgan, Dutch vragen, German fragen, Gothic fraihnan to ask
Related forms
prayingly, adverb
outpray, verb (used with object)
unpraying, adjective
Can be confused
pray, prayer, prey.
Synonyms
4. importune, entreat, supplicate, beg, beseech, implore.
Examples from the web for pray
  • In this extended family, people gather to pray in times of trouble.
  • Lets pray that the research continues for both spinal injuries and multiple sclerosis.
  • In nearly every faith, for thousands of years, congregations have regularly gathered to pray for the sick.
  • They do have convocation once a year and pray at graduation, but that is about the extent of required religious observance.
  • Many bull riders pray openly, and there is a good reason for it.
  • All one had to do was have the elders pray over you, sing gospel music and read a few scriptures-talk about a simple program.
  • Their lives were in danger, but there was little to do except pray.
  • pray for those in decision making positions to get back in touch students' needs.
  • All students are free to take a quiet moment and pray.
  • They come to pray for solutions to their problems and illnesses.
British Dictionary definitions for pray

pray

/preɪ/
verb
1.
when intr, often foll by for; when tr, usually takes a clause as object. to utter prayers (to God or other object of worship): we prayed to God for the sick child
2.
(when transitive, usually takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to make an earnest entreaty (to or for); beg or implore: she prayed to be allowed to go, leave, I pray you
3.
(transitive) (rare) to accomplish or bring by praying: to pray a soul into the kingdom
interjection
4.
(archaic) I beg you; please: pray, leave us alone
Word Origin
C13: from Old French preier, from Latin precārī to implore, from prex an entreaty; related to Old English fricgan, Old High German frāgēn to ask, Old Norse fregna to enquire
Word Origin and History for pray
v.

early 13c., "ask earnestly, beg," also (c.1300) "pray to a god or saint," from Old French preier "to pray" (c.900, Modern French prier), from Vulgar Latin *precare (also source of Italian pregare), from Latin precari "ask earnestly, beg, entreat," from *prex (plural preces, genitive precis) "prayer, request, entreaty," from PIE root *prek- "to ask, request, entreat" (cf. Sanskrit prasna-, Avestan frashna- "question;" Old Church Slavonic prositi, Lithuanian prasyti "to ask, beg;" Old High German frahen, German fragen, Old English fricgan "to ask" a question).

Parenthetical expression I pray you, "please, if you will," attested from 1510s, contracted to pray 16c. Related: Prayed; praying. Praying mantis attested from 1809. The "Gardener's Monthly" of July 1861 lists other names for it as camel cricket, soothsayer, and rear horse.