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.

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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

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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

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

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

She was kneeling before a prie dieu near the casemented window, in evening dress such as she wore when she got into the carriage.

From Frontier Boys in Frisco by Roosevelt, Wyn

Michael knelt upon a low old prie dieu which was near, and looked into her face—while he asked, whimsically: "I do wonder where you will begin."

From The Man and the Moment by Glyn, Elinor