pray
[ prey ]
/ preɪ /
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to make entreaty or supplication, as to a person or for a thing.
SYNONYMS FOR pray
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Origin of pray
1250–1300; Middle English preien<Old French preier ≪ 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, adverboutpray, verb (used with object)un·pray·ing, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for pray
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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