pray
pray
Pronunciation
/preɪ/.
pray:
/p/ - voiceless bilabial plosive
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/eɪ/ - diphthong (as in "day" or "say")
Word Form Variations
Verb Forms:
Base Form: pray (e.g., "I pray daily.")
Third Person Singular Present: prays (e.g., "He prays before meals.")
Present Participle/Gerund: praying (e.g., "She is praying for a good outcome." or "Praying can bring comfort.")
Past Tense: prayed (e.g., "They prayed for guidance.")
Past Participle: prayed (e.g., "He has prayed about this many times.")
Related Noun Forms (derived from the verb "pray"):
Prayer: This is the most common noun form, referring to the act of praying or the words spoken during prayer.
Singular: prayer (e.g., "He offered a silent prayer.")
Plural: prayers (e.g., "Their prayers were answered.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
I. Verb
1. To address a deity or spiritual entity with an appeal, confession, or expression of adoration. * Examples: * "She kneels to pray every night before bed." * "The congregation prayed for peace in the world." * Synonyms: beseech, implore, supplicate, entreat, commune, worship * Antonyms: (Direct antonyms are difficult as "pray" implies a specific action. One might consider inaction or a lack of spiritual address as an antonym.) disregard (a deity), blaspheme (in a contrasting sense of address)
2. (Archaic or Formal) To earnestly request or ask for something; to beg. * Examples: * "I pray you, consider my humble request." (Used in older literature) * "We pray for your understanding in this matter." (More formal or literary usage today) * Synonyms: request, ask, beseech, implore, plead, appeal * Antonyms: demand, command, insist, refuse
II. Related Noun: "Prayer"
While "pray" itself is not a noun, the act or words of praying are commonly referred to by the noun "prayer."
1. The act or practice of communicating with a deity or spiritual entity, typically involving supplication, confession, praise, or thanksgiving. * Examples: * "He spent an hour in silent prayer." * "They gathered for a communal prayer session." * Synonyms: devotion, worship, supplication, invocation, communion, meditation * Antonyms: (As with the verb, direct antonyms are challenging. One might consider the absence of such an act or a contrasting spiritual stance.) secularism (in a broad sense), atheism (in a broad sense of practice), sacrilege (as a contrasting action)
2. A specific set of words used in communicating with a deity or spiritual entity. * Examples: * "She recited a short prayer before the meal." * "The book contained traditional Christian prayers." * Synonyms: invocation, litany, mantra, benediction, plea * Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a "set of words." One might consider the absence of formal religious language.) silence, non-verbal communication
Examples of Use
Books:
"More things are wrought by prayer / Than this world dreams of." (Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Idylls of the King, 1859)
"Give us grace to pray always and not to faint; and grant that we may worthily offer our prayers and praises unto thee." (From The Book of Common Prayer, various editions since 1662)
Newspapers:
"Leaders across the globe urged citizens to pray for peace in the war-torn region." (Associated Press)
"The local community gathered for a special prayer vigil following the tragic accident." (The Daily Herald)
Online Publications:
"Many find solace in prayer during times of uncertainty, believing it connects them to a higher power." (Psychology Today)
"Travelers often pray for safe journeys, especially when venturing into unfamiliar territories." (CNN Travel)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: A character might be heard saying, "I pray that we make it through this storm," in a dramatic scene. (e.g., Twister, 1996)
Music: The song "Like a Prayer" by Madonna is a well-known example of the word's use in popular music. (Madonna, Like a Prayer, 1989)
Television: In a medical drama, a doctor might confess, "All we can do now is pray," after a challenging surgery. (e.g., Grey's Anatomy, various episodes)
General Public Discourse:
"I pray that everyone stays safe during the hurricane." (Heard in conversation among friends)
"Let's say a quick prayer before we begin the meeting." (Common phrase in religious or spiritual gatherings, ongoing)
"My grandma always says, 'Pray often, worry never.'" (Informal family saying, ongoing)
10 Quotes Using Pray
"More things are wrought by prayer / Than this world dreams of." (Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Idylls of the King)
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (Prayer of Jesus, Matthew 7:7-8, King James Version)
"I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire: The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, And, if we meet, we shall not 'scape a brawl; For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring." (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet)
"God does not listen to your words unless they come from the heart. You may pray with all your might and still not utter a single sincere word." (St. John Chrysostom)
"When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart." (John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress)
"We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison)
"I pray for peace, but I am ready for war." (Ancient Roman proverb, often attributed to Vegetius or similar military thinkers)
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own. Thank you. (John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961)
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. When in doubt, tell the truth. There's no need to pray to a God who doesn't exist. Be the change you wish to see in the world. (Mahatma Gandhi, often paraphrased)
"Now I lay me down to sleep, / I pray the Lord my soul to keep." (Traditional children's prayer, attributed to various sources over centuries)
Etymology
The word "pray" has a history that goes back a long way! It started in Latin with the word "precari", which meant "to ask earnestly, beg, or entreat." This Latin word itself came from an even older root, "prex", meaning "a prayer" or "a request."
From Latin, it made its way into Old French as "preier" (or "proier") around the year 900. The meaning was similar: "to pray" in a religious sense, or simply "to ask."
Then, it came into Middle English around the early 13th century as "preien." At first, its main meaning was "to ask earnestly" or "to beg someone." By around 1300, it also developed the more specific religious sense of "to pray to a god or saint."
So, its first known uses in English, dating back to the early 1200s, meant:
To ask someone very seriously, to beg.
Later, to speak to a deity or holy figure with a request or worship.
Interestingly, the common phrase "I pray you" (meaning "please" or "if you will"), which became simply "pray" in the 16th century, also comes from this same origin of asking or entreating.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Pray
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "pray" or its closely related noun "prayer":
Phrases and Idioms with "Pray":
Pray tell: (Archaic/formal) Used to politely ask someone to explain something. "And pray tell, what exactly do you mean by that?"
Pray God: An exclamation or an earnest hope. "Pray God this rain stops soon!"
Pray for rain/snow/etc.: To hope intensely for a specific weather condition. "Farmers are praying for rain after weeks of drought."
Pray for the best: To hope for a good outcome. "We've done all we can, now we just have to pray for the best."
Pray on (someone/something): To exploit or take advantage of someone or something, often implying weakness. "Sharks pray on weaker fish."
Pray one's way through: To manage or get through a difficult situation by relying on prayer. "She had to pray her way through that challenging time."
I pray you: (Archaic) A polite way of saying "please." "I pray you, hear my plea."
Phrases and Idioms with "Prayer" (the noun):
On a wing and a prayer: Relying on hope and luck with very little preparation or resources. "They flew the damaged plane back on a wing and a prayer."
A prayer away: Something that is very close or easily achievable with divine intervention. "Success is just a prayer away."
Say a prayer: To offer a prayer. "Let's all say a prayer for those affected."
Not a prayer: No chance or hope at all. "He hasn't got a prayer of winning that race."
Answer to prayer: Something highly desired that has finally materialized. "Finding that job was an answer to prayer for him."
The power of prayer: The belief that prayer can have a tangible effect or influence. "Many believe in the power of prayer to heal."
Send up a prayer: To offer a quick or spontaneous prayer. "She sent up a quick prayer before the exam."
In one's prayers: To remember someone or something in one's prayers, wishing them well. "You'll be in my prayers."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of pray from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
