Hypertext Webster Gateway: "pray"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Pray \Pray\, v. t.
1. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat;
to implore; to beseech.

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.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Pray \Pray\, n. & v.
See {Pry}. [Obs.] --Spenser.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

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.

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.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

pray
v 1: address God; say a prayer
2: call upon in supplication; entreat; "I beg you to stop!"
[syn: {beg}, {implore}]


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