prie-dieu

American  

[pree-dyoo, pree-dyœ] / ˈpriˈdyʊ, priˈdyœ /

noun

plural

prie-dieus, prie-dieux

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

---

Etymology

Origin of prie-dieu

1750–60; < French: literally, pray God

Example Sentences

The Oratory Church of St. Boniface, in downtown Brooklyn, has a chapel dedicated to Cardinal Newman, with an oil portrait, a prie-dieu, and a gold-leaf etching of his poem “Lead, Kindly Light.”

From The New Yorker • Apr. 8, 2019

On the prie-dieu before which the couple knelt was tactfully draped a second magnificent lace bridal veil, an unexpected last-minute gift from the Hungarian Women's Organization.

From Time Magazine Archive

His prie-dieu, at the front center of the chapel, has a padded armrest.

From Time Magazine Archive

Brother Louis made for the tower, and when the President opened his door, Lord Roke darted through and made for the prie-dieu in the corner of the room.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

By degrees he saw that there were a bed, a prie-dieu, and a sofa against the opposite wall.

From Gabriel Conroy by Harte, Bert