pray Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
    • pray to the Lord
  2. verb call upon in supplication; entreat
    implore; beg.
    • I beg you to stop!

WordNet

Pray noun & verb
Definitions
  1. See Pry. Obs. Spenser.
Pray intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. preien, OF. preier, F. prier, L. precari, fr. prex, precis, a prayer, a request; akin to Skr. prach to ask, AS. frignan, frinan, fricgan, G. fragen, Goth. fraíhnan. Cf. Deprecate, Imprecate, Precarious.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Prayed ; present participle & verbal noun Praying
Definitions
  1. To make request with earnestness or zeal, as for something desired; to make entreaty or supplication; to offer prayer to a deity or divine being as a religious act; specifically, to address the Supreme Being with adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving.
    And to his goddess pitously he preyde. Chaucer.
    When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matt. vi. 6.
    I pray, sir. why am I beaten? Shak.
    Syn. -- To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition.
Pray transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to implore; to beseech.
    And as this earl was preyed, so did he. Chaucer.
    We pray you . . . by ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. v. 20.
  2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.
    I know not how to pray your patience. Shak.
  3. To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out of purgatory. Milman. Mozley & W.

Webster 1913