pray

[ prey ]
/ preɪ /

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to make entreaty or supplication, as to a person or for a thing.

Origin of pray

1250–1300; Middle English preien < Old French preier ≪ Latin precārī to beg, pray, derivative of prex (stem prec-) prayer; akin to Old English fricgan, Dutch vragen, German fragen, Gothic fraihnan to ask

OTHER WORDS FROM pray

pray·ing·ly, adverb out·pray, verb (used with object) un·pray·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pray

pray prayer prey

Example sentences from the Web for pray

British Dictionary definitions for pray

pray
/ (preɪ) /

verb

(when intr, often foll by for; when tr, usually takes a clause as object) to utter prayers (to God or other object of worship) we prayed to God for the sick child
(when tr, usually takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to make an earnest entreaty (to or for); beg or implore she prayed to be allowed to go; leave, I pray you
(tr) rare to accomplish or bring by praying to pray a soul into the kingdom

interjection

archaic I beg you; please pray, leave us alone

Word Origin for pray

C13: from Old French preier, from Latin precārī to implore, from prex an entreaty; related to Old English fricgan, Old High German frāgēn to ask, Old Norse fregna to enquire