- Prayed
- Pray Pray, 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, fr[=i]nan, fricgan, G. fragen, Goth.
fra['i]hnan. 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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.