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pray

[ prey ]
/ preɪ /
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See synonyms for: pray / praying on Thesaurus.com

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.
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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, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pray

pray , prayer, prey
Dictionary.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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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