pray

verb

1. To direct words, thoughts, or one's attention to a deity or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc.

   “Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca.”

   “Pray to the small gods and hope that they may hear thee. Yet what mercy should the small gods have, who themselves made Death and Pain; or shall they restrain their old hound Time for thee?”

   “This can't happen. You can't die! You're the Emissary! [...] Captain, I know my beliefs make you uncomfortable around me sometimes, and that maybe that's why you keep me at arm's length. But I don't care about that right now, and I am going to pray, because I don't know what else to do.”

   “The critically low level of rainfall in the second half of 2020 – approaching 50% year on year for November – led the religious affairs directorate to instruct imams and their congregations to pray for rain last month.”

2. To humbly beg a person for aid or their time.
3. (obsolete)To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.

   “I know not how to pray your patience.”

4. To wish or hope strongly for a particular outcome.

   “She is praying that the Red Sox will win tonight.”

5. (obsolete)To implore, to entreat, to request.

   “They prayd him sit, and gave him for to feed Such homely what as serves the simple clowne, That doth despise the dainties of the towne[…]”

   “In time of drought the Abchases of the Caucasus sacrifice an ox to Ap-hi, the god of thunder and lightning, and an old man prays him to send rain, thunder, and lightning, telling him that the crops are parched.”

   “I humbly pray to the Honorable Court for the order for the removal of the publication which contains fake news to be granted.”

adv

1. (archaic, formal, not-comparable)Please; used to make a polite request

   “pray silence for…”

   “"Pray, Mr. Knightley," said Emma, who had been smiling to herself through a great part of this speech, "how do you know that Mr. Martin did not speak yesterday?"”

   “Pray don’t ask me why, pray don’t be sorry, pray don’t be vexed with me, I have nothing to do with it indeed!”

   “Well, Major, pray tell us your adventures, for you have frightened us dreadfully.”

   “Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue your most interesting statement.”

2. (alt-of, alternative, not-comparable)Alternative form of pray tell (“I ask you”).

   “Shall I be moved to love you, pray, / By hints that I must soon decay? / No woman's won by being told / How quickly she is growing old[...]”

   “He is a South American, so perhaps revolutionary spirit courses through Francis's veins. But what, pray, does the Catholic church want with doubt?”

name

1. A surname.