prie-dieu

American  

[pree-dyoo, pree-dyœ] / ˈpriˈdjʊ, priˈdjœ /

noun

prie-dieus, plural prie-dieux plural

1. a piece of furniture for kneeling on during prayer, having a rest above, as for a book.

---

prie-dieu British  

/ priːˈdjɜː /

noun

1. a piece of furniture consisting of a low surface for kneeling upon and a narrow front surmounted by a rest for the elbows or for books, for use when praying

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• prie-dieus
  plural
• prie-dieux
  plural

Etymology

Origin of prie-dieu

1750–60; < French: literally, pray God

Example Sentences

The age of reason was just as much an age of religion – though a lady's prie dieu was exquisite.

From The Guardian • Jul. 29, 2011

A massive prie dieu stands at his bedside.

From Time Magazine Archive

Although she constantly made fresh efforts to collect her thoughts, and continued to kneel with clasped hands before the prie dieu, not a hoof- beat, not a single loud voice, escaped her ear.

From In the Fire of the Forge — Volume 03 by Safford, Mary J.

At the far end there was a small altar and a prie dieu.

From A Little Girl in Old Detroit by Douglas, Amanda Minnie

In front of the Virgin's shrine was a prie dieu at which a woman was kneeling, but she presently rose and went out, and the girl sat there alone.

From Through the Wall by Moffett, Cleveland