v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Prayed p. pr. & vb. n. Praying. ] [ OE. preien, OF. preier, F. prier, L. precari, fr. prex, precis, a prayer, a request; akin to Skr. prach to ask, AS. frignan, frīnan, fricgan, G. fragen, Goth. fraíhnan. Cf. Deprecate, Imprecate, Precarious. ] To make request with earnestness or zeal, as for something desired; to make entreaty or supplication; to offer prayer to a deity or divine being as a religious act; specifically, to address the Supreme Being with adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving. [ 1913 Webster ]

And to his goddess pitously he preyde. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I pray, or (by ellipsis)
Pray, I beg; I request; I entreat you; -- used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go. [ 1913 Webster ]

I pray, sir. why am I beaten? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to implore; to beseech. [ 1913 Webster ]

And as this earl was preyed, so did he. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

We pray you . . . by ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. v. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for. [ 1913 Webster ]

I know not how to pray your patience. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out of purgatory. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

To pray in aid. (Law) (a) To call in as a helper one who has an interest in the cause. Bacon. (b) A phrase often used to signify claiming the benefit of an argument. See under Aid. Mozley & W. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. & v. See Pry. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. preiere, OF. preiere, F. prière, fr. L. precarius obtained by prayer, fr. precari to pray. See Pray, v. i. ] 1. The act of praying, or of asking a favor; earnest request or entreaty; hence, a petition or memorial addressed to a court or a legislative body. “Their meek preyere.” Chaucer [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of addressing supplication to a divinity, especially to the true God; the offering of adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving to the Supreme Being; as, public prayer; secret prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The form of words used in praying; a formula of supplication; an expressed petition; especially, a supplication addressed to God; as, a written or extemporaneous prayer; to repeat one's prayers. [ 1913 Webster ]

He made those excellent prayers which were published immediately after his death. Bp. Fell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Prayer book, a book containing devotional prayers. --
Prayer meeting, a meeting or gathering for prayer to God. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Petition; orison; supplication; entreaty; suit. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who prays; a supplicant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Given to prayer; praying much or often; devotional. “The prayerful man.” J. S. Blackie. -- Prayer"ful*ly, adv. -- Prayer"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not using prayer; habitually neglecting prayer to God; without prayer. “The next time you go prayerless to bed.” Baxter. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Prayer"less*ly, adv. -- Prayer"less*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. from Pray, v. [ 1913 Webster ]

Praying insect,
Praying locust, or
Praying mantis (Zool.), a mantis, especially Mantis religiosa. See Mantis. --
Praying machine, or
Praying wheel, a wheel on which prayers are pasted by Buddhist priests, who then put the wheel in rapid revolution. Each turn in supposed to have the efficacy of an oral repetition of all the prayers on the wheel. Sometimes it is moved by a stream. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With supplication to God. [ 1913 Webster ]