prayer

[ prair ]

/ prɛər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR prayer 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?

Nearby words

praxeology, praxis, praxiteles, pray, pray-in, prayer, prayer beads, prayer book, prayer flag, prayer meeting, prayer of manasses

Origin of prayer

1250–1300; Middle English preiere < Old French < Medieval Latin precāria, noun use of feminine of precārius obtained by entreaty, equivalent to prec- (stem of prex) prayer + -ārius -ary; cf. precarious

Related forms

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

Can be confused

pray prayer prey

Definition for prayer (2 of 2)

prayer

[ prey-er ]

/ ˈpreɪ ər /

noun

a person who prays.

Origin of prayer

First recorded in 1400–50, prayer is from the late Middle English word preyare. See pray, -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for prayer

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 Bishop did not understand Latin so offered up a prayer for he and she mules.
The Rise of the Mediaeval Church|Alexander Clarence Flick
Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from deceitful lips.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
They estimate the efficacy of prayer by its quantity and not by its quality.
Wit and Humor of the Bible|Marion D. Shutter
The cloud of blessing floats over our heads, but we fail to stretch forth the electric rod of prayer to fetch it down!
The Hart and the Water-Brooks;|John R. Macduff
It purifies them, it gives intelligence to the hand, it disposes the heart to prayer.
Delsarte System of Oratory|Various

British Dictionary definitions for prayer (1 of 2)

prayer

/ (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

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)

prayer

/ (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

prayer

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of prayer

Related forms

Can be confused

Definition for prayer (2 of 2)

prayer

noun

Origin of prayer

Examples from the Web for prayer

British Dictionary definitions for prayer (1 of 2)

prayer

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for prayer

British Dictionary definitions for prayer (2 of 2)

prayer

noun