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

"Please give the families involved privacy, and keep them in your thoughts and prayers," he said.

Read more on BBC

The situation in Tanzania has sparked global concern, with Pope Leo XIV on Sunday calling for prayers, saying post-election violence had erupted "with numerous victims".

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After a sack in the first half, the third-year linebacker dropped to his knees and turned his palms to the sky and held out his hands in prayer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"We offer our prayers up to the victims and everyone involved; it must be horrific to have seen what was going on," he said.

Read more on BBC

"Our prayers are with the brave Cuban people," it added.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• appeal 
• invocation 
• plea 
• service 
• worship