prayer
1a 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.
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?
Origin of prayer
1Other words from prayer
- prayerless, adjective
- prayer·less·ly, adverb
- prayer·less·ness, noun
Words that may be confused with prayer
How to use prayer in a sentence
“Our hearts and our prayers are with you,” read a message on the accompanying card.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops | Michael Daly | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd an arrow painted on the ground that shows the way to Mecca, for prayers.
Zalwar Khan returns quickly and begins his morning prayers, spreading out a plastic mat and folding his arms over his chest.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley | Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman | November 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOn Tuesday, Brown tweeted that her doctors were giving up, and that needed prayers.
MTV’s Diem Brown Dies: When Reality TV Starts Getting Real | Kevin Fallon | November 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe recounted his own prayers to Mother Cabrini in 1998, which he believes aided him in becoming a U.S. citizen.
But Canon Drivel's daughter did not deign to answer, she merely rang for prayers.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsMrs. Dodd opened the book—her father, the Canon's, well-known book of Family Prayers.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsAs he ran he tried to say his prayers, but all he could remember was, "Our Father who art in heaven."
A Lost Hero | Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward and Herbert D. WardHe found himself trying to frame the words, but they broke into incoherent prayers, still to the same grotesque tune.
Uncanny Tales | VariousI tell you this to the end that, thinking less well of me, you may spare me prayers which I should dread to see fulfilled.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
British Dictionary definitions for prayer (1 of 2)
/ (prɛə) /
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 praying: prayer is our solution to human problems
(often plural) a form of devotion, either public or private, spent mainly or wholly praying: morning prayers
(capital when part of a recognized name) a form of words used in praying: the 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 hope: she doesn't have a prayer of getting married
Origin of prayer
1Derived forms of prayer
- prayerless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for prayer (2 of 2)
/ (ˈpreɪə) /
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
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