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prayer

¹

[ prair ]

/ prɛər /

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See synonyms for: prayer / prayers on Thesaurus.com

noun

a devout petition to God or an object of worship.

a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.

the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship.

a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying: the Lord's Prayer.

prayers, a religious observance, either public or private, consisting wholly or mainly of prayer.

that which is prayed for.

a petition; entreaty.

the section of a bill in equity, or of a petition, that sets forth the complaint or the action desired.

a negligible hope or chance: Do you think he has a prayer of getting that job?

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Origin of prayer

¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English preier(e), preire, from Old French priiere, preiere, from Medieval Latin precāria, noun use of feminine of precārius “given as a favor, obtained by entreaty,” equivalent to prec- (stem of prex ) “prayer, supplication” + -ārius -ary; cf. precarious

OTHER WORDS FROM prayer

prayerless, adjectiveprayer·less·ly, adverbprayer·less·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH prayer

pray, prayer , prey

Words nearby prayer

prawn-sandwich, praxeology, praxis, Praxiteles, pray, prayer, prayer beads, prayer book, prayer flag, prayerful, prayer meeting

Other definitions for prayer (2 of 2)

prayer²

[ prey-er ]

/ ˈpreɪ ər /

noun

a person who prays.

Origin of prayer

²

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English preier(e), preyare; see origin at pray;see also -er¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use prayer in a sentence

Our prayers are with Ron’s wife, Susan, their three children, and their nine grandchildren.
Rep. Ron Wright has died after battle with covid-19|Paulina Firozi, David Weigel|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
You give prayers to the families that were involved, and especially the child that was involved.
What went wrong for the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes in a brutal Super Bowl defeat|Adam Kilgore|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
One officer removed his hat, covered his face with the palm of his left hand and seemed to offer a silent prayer.
Officer Brian Sicknick remembered as hero who died defending the U.S. Capitol|Meagan Flynn, Emily Davies, Paul M. Duggan|February 3, 2021|Washington Post
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.
Friends and colleagues mourn the loss of Mel Antonen, longtime MLB reporter|Scott Allen|February 1, 2021|Washington Post

Hall, who has had covid, said a prayer and made the decision.
The racial disparities over who is returning to D.C. classrooms puts equity spotlight on reopening plan|Perry Stein|January 31, 2021|Washington Post
Before I go out on tour, I ask for prayer and to help my family.
Down With the King: Christianity Isn’t Hiding in Rap’s Closet|Stereo Williams|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After the Thursday prayer, the crowd of Congressional staff and lawmakers posed in the iconic, "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" pose.
Capitol Hill's Black Staffers Walk Out to Say ‘Hands Up, Don't Shoot!’|Tim Mak|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the end of his prayer, the grand mufti whispered aloud: “May God accept it.”
Does Pope Francis Believe Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?|Jay Parini|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Highway safety flares provided light as the clans joined by loss sought solace in prayer and song.
The Cleveland Cops Who Fired 137 Shots and Cried Victim|Michael Daly|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You are also not allowed to film or photograph a royal ‘at prayer’.
Media, Dress Smart For Kate|Tom Sykes|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Alcalde remained kneeling for a short time by the side of the corpse, his lips moving in prayer.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
He that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his prayer shall approach even to the clouds.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
The cow happily recovered, which the widow entirely attributed to the efficacy of her pastor's prayer.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
As we learn more and more of the laws of Nature we put less and less reliance on the effect of prayer.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford

British Dictionary definitions for prayer (1 of 2)

prayer¹

/ (prɛə) /

noun

a personal communication or petition addressed to a deity, esp in the form of supplication, adoration, praise, contrition, or thanksgiving
any other form of spiritual communion with a deity

a similar personal communication that does not involve adoration, addressed to beings venerated as being closely associated with a deity, such as angels or saints

the practice of prayingprayer is our solution to human problems

(often plural) a form of devotion, either public or private, spent mainly or wholly prayingmorning prayers

(capital when part of a recognized name) a form of words used in prayingthe Lord's Prayer

an object or benefit prayed for

an earnest request, petition, or entreaty

law a request contained in a petition to a court for the relief sought by the petitioner

slang a chance or hopeshe doesn't have a prayer of getting married

Derived forms of prayer

prayerless, adjective

Word Origin for prayer

C13 preiere, from Old French, from Medieval Latin precāria, from Latin precārius obtained by begging, from prex prayer

British Dictionary definitions for prayer (2 of 2)

prayer²

/ (ˈpreɪə) /

noun

a person who prays

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012