prie-dieu

American  

[pree-dyoo, pree-dyœ] / ˈpriˈdyʊ, priˈdyœ /

noun

plural

prie-dieus, prie-dieux

1. a piece of furniture for kneeling on during prayer, having a rest above, as for a book.

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prie-dieu British  

/ priːˈdjɜː /

noun

1. a piece of furniture consisting of a low surface for kneeling upon and a narrow front surmounted by a rest for the elbows or for books, for use when praying

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Etymology

Origin of prie-dieu

1750–60; < French: literally, pray God

Example Sentences

The Oratory Church of St. Boniface, in downtown Brooklyn, has a chapel dedicated to Cardinal Newman, with an oil portrait, a prie-dieu, and a gold-leaf etching of his poem “Lead, Kindly Light.”

From The New Yorker • Apr. 8, 2019

His prie-dieu, at the front center of the chapel, has a padded armrest.

From Time Magazine Archive

On the prie-dieu before which the couple knelt was tactfully draped a second magnificent lace bridal veil, an unexpected last-minute gift from the Hungarian Women's Organization.

From Time Magazine Archive

Brother Louis made for the tower, and when the President opened his door, Lord Roke darted through and made for the prie-dieu in the corner of the room.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

By degrees he saw that there were a bed, a prie-dieu, and a sofa against the opposite wall.

From Gabriel Conroy by Harte, Bert