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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Pray

Prāy, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. PRAYED; p. pr. & vb. n. PRAYING.] [O. Fr. preier, proier, preer, N. Fr. prier, Pr. pregar, pregar, It. pregare, Lat. precari, from precis, a prayer, request.]

  1. To ask with earnestness or zeal, as for a favor, or for something desirable; to entreat; to supplicate. “A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness.” Shak.
  2. Especially, to offer prayer to God; to address the Supreme Being with adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving.

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, or, by ellipsis, simply pray, I beg; I request; I entreat you; — used in asking a question, making a request, and the like.

Pray, then, what wants he? fourscore thousand pounds? Pope.

Synonyms—To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; beseech; petition.

Prāy, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to urge. We pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. v. 20.

Sense 2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for; to request; to beseech; to petition. He that will have the benefit of this act must pray a prohibition before a sentence in the ecclesiastical court. Ayliffe.

Sense 3. To affect or move by prayer; to intercede in behalf of, — often with a following preposition or adverb. Praying souls out of purgatory, by masses said in their behalf, became an ordinary office. Milman. To pray in aid (Law), to call in for help one who has interest in the cause.