prayer

¹

[prair]

noun

1. a devout petition to God or an object of worship.

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

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

4. a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying.

   the Lord's Prayer.

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

6. that which is prayed for.

7. a petition; entreaty.

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

9. a negligible hope or chance.

   Do you think he has a prayer of getting that job?

prayer

²

[prey-er]

noun

1. a person who prays.

prayer

¹

/ prɛə /

noun

1. 1. a personal communication or petition addressed to a deity, esp in the form of supplication, adoration, praise, contrition, or thanksgiving

   2. any other form of spiritual communion with a deity

2. 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

3. the practice of praying

   prayer is our solution to human problems

4. (often plural) a form of devotion, either public or private, spent mainly or wholly praying

   morning prayers

5. (capital when part of a recognized name) a form of words used in praying

   the Lord's Prayer

6. an object or benefit prayed for

7. an earnest request, petition, or entreaty

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

9. slang,  a chance or hope

   she doesn't have a prayer of getting married

prayer

²

/ ˈpreɪə /

noun

1. a person who prays

Other Word Forms

• prayerless adjective
• prayerlessly adverb
• prayerlessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of prayer¹

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; precarious

Origin of prayer²

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English preier(e), preyare; pray; -er ¹ ( def. ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of prayer¹

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

Example Sentences

These feature the nuns at prayer or at lunch, and include Sister Rita's exercise workouts.

Read more on BBC

Returning from early morning prayers at a local mosque, "I noticed the street was flooded."

Read more on Barron's

Roberge said the limits on public prayer were in reaction to recent protests in the province, where there has been debate over groups praying at pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Read more on BBC

Reached by phone Thursday morning, Jason Wolfe, Andrew’s father, said, “Please pray for my son. We want prayers.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Reached by phone Thursday morning, Jason Wolfe, Andrew’s father said, “Please pray for my son. We want prayers.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• appeal 
• invocation 
• plea 
• service 
• worship