Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Pray?

\Pray\, n. & v. See {Pry}. [Obs.] --Spenser.
\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.
\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.