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pray

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Pray is defined as to ask for something or to offer thanks or praise to a god, goddess or other deity.

(verb)

An example of to pray is asking God to bless a meal you're about to eat.

See pray in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

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

Origin: 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

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

See pray in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb prayed, pray·ing, prays

verb, intransitive

To utter or address a prayer or prayers to God, a god, or another object of worship.
To make a fervent request or entreaty.

verb, transitive

To utter or say a prayer or prayers to; address by prayer.
To ask (someone) imploringly; beseech. Now often used elliptically for I pray you to introduce a request or entreaty: Pray be careful.
To make a devout or earnest request for: I pray your permission to speak.
To move or bring by prayer or entreaty.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English preien

Origin: , from Old French preier

Origin: , from Latin precārī

Origin: , from precē

Origin: , pl. of *prex, prayer; see prek- in Indo-European roots

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