• enPR: prā, IPA: /pɹeɪ/

pray (prays, present participle praying; past and past participle prayed)

1. (religion) To direct words and/or thoughts to God or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc.

   Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca.

2. To humbly beg a person for aid or their time.
3. (obsolete) To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.
   • 1598–1599 (first performance)​, William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act V, scene i]:

     I know not how to pray your patience.

4. (obsolete) to implore, to entreat, to request.

   • They prayd him sit, and gave him for to feed / Such homely what as serves the simple clowne, / That doth despise the dainties of the towne […]

• precarious

• French: prier
• German: beten
• Italian: pregare
• Portuguese: rezar, orar, pregar
• Russian: моли́ться
• Spanish: rezar, orar

• German: bitten, erbitten
• Portuguese: rogar
• Russian: моли́ть
• Spanish: rogar

• French: prier
• German: beten
• Italian: pregare
• Portuguese: rezar, orar
• Russian: моли́ться
• Spanish: orar, rogar

pray (not comparable)

1. Please; used to make a polite request.

   pray silence for…

   • 1816, Jane Austen, Emma, Volume 1 Chapter 8

     "Pray, Mr. Knightley," said Emma, who had been smiling to herself through a great part of this speech, "how do you know that Mr. Martin did not speak yesterday?"

   • 1841, Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop, Chapter 10

     Pray don’t ask me why, pray don’t be sorry, pray don’t be vexed with me!

   • 1845, Frederick Marryat, The Mission, Chapter XXI

     Well, Major, pray tell us your adventures, for you have frightened us dreadfully.

   • 1892, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb

     Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue your most interesting statement.

   • 2013, Martina Hyde, Is the pope Catholic? (in The Guardian, 20 September 2013)

     He is a South American, so perhaps revolutionary spirit courses through Francis's veins. But what, pray, does the Catholic church want with doubt?

1. Surname