PRAY • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Pray

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/preɪ/ Listen

verb

Pray v. t.

To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to implore; to beseech. "And as this earl was preyed, so did he." "We pray you... by ye reconciled to God."

To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for. "I know not how to pray your patience."

To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out of purgatory.

To pray in aid. (Law)

(a)

To call in as a helper one who has an interest in the cause.

(b)

A phrase often used to signify claiming the benefit of an argument. See under Aid.

Pray v. i. (past & past part. prayed; pres. part. praying) 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." "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."

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?"

Synonyms: To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition.

noun

Pray n., v. See Pry. (Obs.)

See images of 'Pray'

Etymology of 'Pray'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Pray" Quotes from Famous Books

... said Hamilton earnestly, addressing himself to a small snapshot photograph of Sanders, which stood on a side table. "Let us pray that the barbarian of his kindness will sit quietly till you return, my Sanders—for the Lord knows what trouble I'm going to get into before ...

— Bones - Being Further Adventures in Mr. Commissioner Sanders' Country • Edgar Wallace

... "Hush, pray," said Jack, affectedly; "he is an officious young man. But be thankful for small mercies, old boy; you have got ...

— Bluebell - A Novel • Mrs. George Croft Huddleston

... "but it is certainly both lawful and right to pray to the gods, that my departure hence thither may be happy; which therefore I pray, and so may it be." And as he said this he drank it off readily and calmly. Thus far, most of us were with difficulty able to restrain ourselves from weeping, but when we saw him drinking, ...

— The Great Events by Famous Historians, Vol. 2 • Various

... and established their heathen rites and customs. Their religion resembled that of their Scandinavian neighbours. Each village had its sacred spot, some clearing in the forest, a tree, or well, whither the people resorted to pray to their gods, and practise superstitious rites and customs which lingered long after the introduction of Christianity, and even still survive. They had also a few temples whither the freemen came three ...

— English Villages • P. H. Ditchfield

... early, and so was I. Business before pleasure, you know; so I hope you will excuse me if I keep right on. I have stinted myself to get through, mopping and all, by ten, and it is now nine by Peterkin's bell. Pray be seated. ...

— Tracy Park • Mary Jane Holmes

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