pray
[ prey ]
/ preɪ /
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verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to make entreaty or supplication, as to a person or for a thing.
Verb Phrases
pray tell. See entry at pray tell.
OTHER WORDS FOR pray
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Origin of pray
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English preien, from Old French preier, ultimately derived from Latin precārī “to beg, pray,” derivative of prex (stem prec- ) prayer; akin to Old English fricgan, Dutch vragen, German fragen, Gothic fraihnan “to ask”
OTHER WORDS FROM pray
pray·ing·ly, adverbout·pray, verb (used with object)un·pray·ing, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use pray in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for pray
pray
/ (preɪ) /
verb
(when intr, often foll by for; when tr, usually takes a clause as object) to utter prayers (to God or other object of worship)we prayed to God for the sick child
(when tr, usually takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to make an earnest entreaty (to or for); beg or imploreshe prayed to be allowed to go; leave, I pray you
(tr) rare to accomplish or bring by prayingto pray a soul into the kingdom
interjection
archaic I beg you; pleasepray, leave us alone
Word Origin for pray
C13: from Old French preier, from Latin precārī to implore, from prex an entreaty; related to Old English fricgan, Old High German frāgēn to ask, Old Norse fregna to enquire
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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