pray Hear it!

pray Definition

pray (prā)

transitive verb

  1. to implore or beseech: now seldom used except as the elliptical form of “I pray you” pray tell me
  2. to ask for by prayer or supplication; beg for imploringly
  3. to recite (a prayer)
  4. to bring about, get, etc. by praying

Etymology: ME preien < OFr preier < LL precare, for L precari < prex (gen. precis), prayer < IE *pre-, var. of base *per-, question > Ger frage, question

intransitive verb

  1. to ask very earnestly; make supplication, as to a deity
  2. to worship God, a god, etc., as by reciting certain set formulas

pray Synonyms

pray

v.

  1. To ask or beg

    entreat, petition, plead; see appeal 1, beg 1.

  2. To call upon God

    hold communion with God, supplicate, implore, petition, entreat, invocate, commend someone to God, recite the rosary, tell one's beads. See syn. study at appeal.appeal.

pray Usage Examples

Object

  • mantis: In contrast, there is a species of praying mantis which only ejaculates once its head has been bitten off.
  • prayer: Would you like to pray that prayer very solemnly to God just now?
  • ye: My lord, I pray ye, put off your doublet.
  • psalm: At the beginning of chapter 2 she prays a glorious psalm of praise and joy and delight.
  • standing: On Sundays and during the season of Pentecost one should pray standing and not kneeling.
  • worship: Be challenged, learn to pray, worship and live out your faith better.

Preposition: that

  • prayer: Well, I must ask, have you prayed that first prayer?
  • blessing: My lords and members of the House of Commons: I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.

Modifying Another Word

  • earnestly: Pray earnestly for a broken heart " ( Spurgeon ).

Used with why or when

  • that: It's an alternative way of praying that helps bring kids into the faith, say church members.

Preposition: in

  • tongue: For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
  • faith: I prayed in great faith for Mr. Witham; the time of whose departure draws nigher and nigher.
  • spirit: I confirmed his word, and prayed in the Spirit.

Preposition: for

  • repose: Father Chris Whelan Theresa Clooney RIP Please pray for the repose of the soul of Theresa Clooney who died recently.
  • forgiveness: I grew up with guilt in my heart, and often prayed for forgiveness, sanctification and purification.
  • peace: Do you love the chosen people of God and desire to pray for the peace of Jerusalem?
  • revival: They had known revival and they knew how to pray for a revival.
  • healing: Perhaps like this woman you need to pray for physical healing.
  • wisdom: Pray for wisdom of how to prepare well for that time.
pray Quotes

I think the dying prayat the last not please but thank you as a guest thanks his host at the door.

—Dillard, Annie

Give honour unto Luke Evangelist; For he it was (the aged legends say) Who first taught Art to fold her hands and pray.

—Rossetti, Dante Gabriel

He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea.

—Herbert, George

One can write, think and pray exclusively of others; dreams are all egocentric.

—Waugh, Evelyn Arthur StJohn

If thou shouldst never see my face again, Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer Than this world dreams of.Wherefore, let thy voice Rise like a fountain for me night and day. For what are men better than sheep or goats That nourish a blind life within the brain, If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer Both for themselves and those who call them friend? For so the whole round earth is every way Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.

—Tennyson

I am just going to pray for you at St Paul's, but with no very lively hope of success.

—Smith, Rev Sydney

Pray God our greatness may not fail Through craven fears of being great.

—Tennyson

   Pray inwardly, even though you do not enjoy it. It does good though you feel nothing, even though you think you are doing nothing.

—Julian of Norwich known as LadyJulian

'Pray, my dear,'quoth my mother,'have you not forgot to wind up the clock?'ö'Good Gö?'cried my father, making an exclamation, but taking care to moderate his voice at the same time,ö'Did ever woman, since the creation of the world, interrupt a man with such a silly question?'

—Sterne, Laurence

I pray thee then, Write me as one that loves his fellow-men.

—Hunt, (James Henry) Leigh

Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano. One should pray to have a sound mind in a sound body.

—Juvenal full name Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis

But thou, 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. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

—Bible (NewTestament)

More than at any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads.One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.

—Allen,Woody pseudonym of  Allen Stewart Konigsberg

Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees That half a proper gardener's work is done upon his knees, So when your work is finished, you can wash your hands and pray For the Glory of the Garden that it may not pass away! 474

—Kipling, (Joseph) Rudyard

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

—Bible (NewTestament)

Browse dictionary entries near pray

  1. ‹ Praxiteles
  2. ‹ praxis
  3. ‹ prawn
  4. ‹ prau
  5. ‹ prattle
  6. ‹ Prato
  7. ‹ pratique
  8. ‹ pratincole
  9. ‹ pratfall
  10. ‹ prate
  1. pray for ›
  2. prayer ›
  3. prayer beads ›
  4. prayer book ›
  5. prayer meeting ›
  6. Prayer of Manasses ›
  7. prayer rug ›
  8. prayer shawl ›
  9. prayer wheel ›
  10. prayerful ›