pray

verbplead; call upon for help, answer

Synonyms for pray

verb plead; call upon for help, answer

Antonyms for pray

Word Origin & History

early 13c., "ask earnestly, beg," also (c.1300) "pray to a god or saint," from Old French preier "to pray" (c.900, Modern French prier), from Vulgar Latin *precare (also source of Italian pregare), from Latin precari "ask earnestly, beg, entreat," from *prex (plural preces, genitive precis) "prayer, request, entreaty," from PIE root *prek- "to ask, request, entreat" (cf. Sanskrit prasna-, Avestan frashna- "question;" Old Church Slavonic prositi, Lithuanian prasyti "to ask, beg;" Old High German frahen, German fragen, Old English fricgan "to ask" a question).

Parenthetical expression I pray you, "please, if you will," attested from 1510s, contracted to pray 16c. Related: Prayed; praying. Praying mantis attested from 1809. The "Gardener's Monthly" of July 1861 lists other names for it as camel cricket, soothsayer, and rear horse.

Example Sentences for pray

With a nod and a smile, Aspasia said, "Continue the music, I pray you."

Pray accept this author's copy with his best and hopefullest wishes.

And pray now let me ask you, If the honour of that will not be an honour to you?

Why, I pray you, good Sir, should I be made miserable for life?

If you can command the good creature to a place worthy of her, pray do for my sake.

I will not pray a word more, for I know you will do just what I want.

We pray thee to teach us so to live that we may all meet some day in our Father's house.

I pray you to speed a bolt against yonder shield with all your force.

I pray you, Alleyne, to give him greeting from me, and to ask him for his titles and coat-armor.

Sir Otto, I pray you to stand behind us with this young squire.

pray

Synonyms for pray

Antonyms for pray

appealed

appeals

ask

asked

beg

pray

Synonyms for pray

Antonyms for pray

More words related to pray

appeal

appealed

appeals

ask

asked

beg