And as this earl was preyed, so did he. --Chaucer.
We pray you . . . by ye reconciled to God. --2 Cor.
v. 20.
2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication;
to entreat for.
I know not how to pray your patience. --Shak.
3. To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out
of purgatory. --Milman.
{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.
And to his goddess pitously he preyde. --Chaucer.
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.
{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.
I pray, sir. why am I beaten? --Shak.
Syn: To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech;
petition.