prayer

¹

[ prair ]

noun

1. a devout petition to God or an object of worship.
2. a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.
3. the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship.
4. a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying:

   the Lord's Prayer.

5. prayers, a religious observance, either public or private, consisting wholly or mainly of prayer.
6. that which is prayed for.
7. a petition; entreaty.
8. the section of a bill in equity, or of a petition, that sets forth the complaint or the action desired.
9. a negligible hope or chance:

   Do you think he has a prayer of getting that job?

prayer

²

[ prey-er ]

noun

1. a person who prays.

prayer

¹

/ ˈpreɪə /

noun

1. a person who prays

prayer

²

/ prɛə /

noun

1. 1. a personal communication or petition addressed to a deity, esp in the form of supplication, adoration, praise, contrition, or thanksgiving
   2. any other form of spiritual communion with a deity
2. a similar personal communication that does not involve adoration, addressed to beings venerated as being closely associated with a deity, such as angels or saints
3. the practice of praying

   prayer is our solution to human problems

4. often plural a form of devotion, either public or private, spent mainly or wholly praying

   morning prayers

5. capital when part of a recognized name a form of words used in praying

   the Lord's Prayer

6. an object or benefit prayed for
7. an earnest request, petition, or entreaty
8. law a request contained in a petition to a court for the relief sought by the petitioner
9. slang.
   a chance or hope

   she doesn't have a prayer of getting married

Derived Forms

• ˈprayerless, adjective

Other Words From

• prayerless adjective
• prayerless·ly adverb
• prayerless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of prayer¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English preier(e), preire, from Old French priiere, preiere, from Medieval Latin precāria, noun use of feminine of precārius “given as a favor, obtained by entreaty,” equivalent to prec- (stem of prex ) “prayer, supplication” + -ārius -ary; precarious

Origin of prayer²

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English preier(e), preyare; pray; -er ¹( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of prayer¹

C13 preiere, from Old French, from Medieval Latin precāria, from Latin precārius obtained by begging, from prex prayer

Example Sentences

Trump probably cares less about the prayers and more that Walters lines his pockets.

From Salon

Whether steering a ship for commercial trade or finding the direction of Mecca for purposes of prayer, an astrolabe harnessed light to manage desires around science and myth.

From Los Angeles Times

“I grew up in a Jewish household so I know what it is to say the prayer over the menorah and go through that ritual. That’s really the centerpiece of the holiday,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

The court heard how security guards found the teenager in a prayer room.

From BBC

The song “Nazarene,” which plays over the end titles, is both a ballad and a kind of prayer.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appeal
• invocation
• plea
• service
• worship