prayer
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word prayer. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word prayer, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say prayer in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word prayer you have here. The definition of the word prayer will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofprayer, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology 1
From Middle English preiere, from Old French preiere, from Early Medieval Latin precāria, derived from Latin precem. Displaced native Old English ġebed.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /pɹɛə(ɹ)/
- (US) enPR: prâr, prāʹər, IPA(key): /pɹɛɚ/, /ˈpɹɛɹ/, /ˈpɹeɪəɹ/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ), -eɪə(ɹ)
Noun
prayer (countable and uncountable, plural prayers)
- (uncountable) A practice of communicating with one's God, or with some spiritual entity.
- Through prayer I ask for God's guidance.
- In many cultures, prayer involves singing.
- (countable) An act of praying.
- 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
- Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […] , down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.
- 2020 December, Dave Barry, Year in review:
- In that spirit, we’ll close with the wish we always offer at the end of our annual review, although this time it’s more of a prayer: Happy new year.
- The specific words or methods used for praying.
- For Baha'is there's a difference between obligatory and devotional prayer.
- A meeting held for the express purpose of praying.
- Grandpa never misses a chance to go to prayer.
- (countable) A request; a petition.
- This, your honor, is my prayer; that all here be set free.
- (in the singular, mostly in negative constructions) The remotest hope or chance.
- That team doesn't have a prayer of winning the championship.
Synonyms
Derived terms
- arrow prayer
- call to prayer
- dawn prayer
- evening prayer
- friday prayer
- house of prayer
- morning prayer
- not have a prayer
- on a wing and a prayer
- prayer bead
- prayer beads
- prayer book
- prayer bump
- prayer card
- prayer circle
- prayer flag
- prayer for relief
- prayer mat
- prayer meeting
- prayer mill
- prayer-monger
- prayer plant
- prayer room
- prayer rope
- prayer rug
- prayer shawl
- prayer wheel
- psychic prayer
- sinner's prayer
- sunset prayer
- wing and prayer
Translations
practice of communicating with one's God
| |||||||||||
the act of praying
| |||||||||||
the specific words or methods used for praying
|
a meeting held for the express purpose of praying
|
a request; a petition
|
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
|
Etymology 2
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpɹeɪə(ɹ)/
Audio (Southern England) (file)
- (US) enPR: prāʹər, IPA(key): /ˈpɹeɪəɹ/
- Rhymes: -eɪə(ɹ)
Noun
prayer (plural prayers)
- One who prays.
- 1974, Shel Silverstein, “Invitation”, in Where the Sidewalk Ends, Harper Collins Publishers:
- If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar / A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer…
- 2012, Paul O'Connor, Islam in Hong Kong: Muslims and Everyday Life in China's World City:
- Out of the 37 respondents, seven are infrequent prayers who prefer to leave the precise details of their prayer life ambiguous.
Translations
one who prays
|