prayer

1
[ prair ]
/ prɛər /

noun

Origin of prayer

1
1250–1300; Middle English preiere < Old French < Medieval Latin precāria, noun use of feminine of precārius obtained by entreaty, equivalent to prec- (stem of prex) prayer + -ārius -ary; cf. precarious

OTHER WORDS FROM prayer

prayer·less, adjective prayer·less·ly, adverb prayer·less·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH prayer

pray prayer prey

Definition for prayer (2 of 2)

prayer 2
[ prey-er ]
/ ˈpreɪ ər /

noun

a person who prays.

Origin of prayer

2
First recorded in 1400–50, prayer is from the late Middle English word preyare. See pray, -er1

Example sentences from the Web for prayer

British Dictionary definitions for prayer (1 of 2)

prayer 1
/ (prɛə) /

noun

Derived forms of prayer

prayerless, adjective

Word Origin for prayer

C13 preiere, from Old French, from Medieval Latin precāria, from Latin precārius obtained by begging, from prex prayer

British Dictionary definitions for prayer (2 of 2)

prayer 2
/ (ˈpreɪə) /

noun

a person who prays