prayer

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prayer¹

(prâr)

a. A reverent petition made to God, a god, or another object of worship.

b. The act of making a reverent petition to God, a god, or another object of worship: belief in the power of prayer.

2. An act of communion with God, a god, or another object of worship, such as in devotion, confession, praise, or thanksgiving: One evening a week, the family would join together in prayer.

3. A specially worded form used to address God, a god, or another object of worship.

4. prayers A religious observance in which praying predominates: morning prayers.

a. A fervent request: Her prayer for rain was granted at last.

b. The thing requested: His safe arrival was their only prayer.

6. The slightest chance or hope: In a storm the mountain climbers won't have a prayer.

7. Law

a. The request for relief by a party initiating a lawsuit, stated in the pleadings.

b. The portion of the pleadings that contains this request.

[Middle English preiere, from Old French, from Medieval Latin precāria, from feminine of Latin precārius, obtained by entreaty, from precārī, to entreat; see pray.]

pray·er²

(prā′ər)

One who prays.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

prayer

(prɛə)

1. (Ecclesiastical Terms)

a. a personal communication or petition addressed to a deity, esp in the form of supplication, adoration, praise, contrition, or thanksgiving

b. any other form of spiritual communion with a deity

2. (Ecclesiastical Terms) 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. (Ecclesiastical Terms) the practice of praying: prayer is our solution to human problems.

4. (Ecclesiastical Terms) (often plural) a form of devotion, either public or private, spent mainly or wholly praying: morning prayers.

5. (Ecclesiastical Terms) (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) 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.

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

ˈprayerless adj

prayer

(ˈpreɪə)

(Ecclesiastical Terms) a person who prays

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

prayer¹

(prɛər)

n.

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, or adoration.

3. the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship.

4. a formula or sequence of words used in praying: the Lord's Prayer.

5. prayers, a religious observance consisting mainly of prayer.

6. something prayed for.

7. a petition; entreaty.

8. a negligible hope or chance: We don't have a prayer of winning.

[1250–1300; Middle English preiere < Old French < Medieval Latin precāria, n. use of feminine of Latin precārius given as a favor =prec- (s. of prex) prayer + -ārius -ary; compare precarious]

pray•er²

(ˈpreɪ ər)

n.

a person who prays.

[1400–50]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	prayer - the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving); "the priest sank to his knees in prayer" supplication worship - the activity of worshipping devotion - (usually plural) religious observance or prayers (usually spoken silently); "he returned to his devotions" benediction, blessing - the act of praying for divine protection
	2.	prayer - reverent petition to a deity orison, petition prayer wheel - a cylinder with prayers written on it; each revolution counts as uttering the prayers; used especially by Buddhists in Tibet asking, request - the verbal act of requesting benediction, blessing - a ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection collect - a short prayer generally preceding the lesson in the Church of Rome or the Church of England commination - prayers proclaiming God's anger against sinners; read in the Church of England on Ash Wednesday deprecation - a prayer to avert or remove some evil or disaster thanksgiving, blessing, grace - a short prayer of thanks before a meal; "their youngest son said grace" intercession - a prayer to God on behalf of another person invocation, supplication - a prayer asking God's help as part of a religious service requiescat - a prayer for the repose of the soul of a dead person
	3.	prayer - earnest or urgent request; "an entreaty to stop the fighting"; "an appeal for help"; "an appeal to the public to keep calm" appeal, entreaty asking, request - the verbal act of requesting adjuration - a solemn and earnest appeal to someone to do something demagoguery, demagogy - impassioned appeals to the prejudices and emotions of the populace plea, supplication - a humble request for help from someone in authority solicitation - an entreaty addressed to someone of superior status; "a solicitation to the king for relief" suit - a petition or appeal made to a person of superior status or rank courting, courtship, wooing, suit - a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage); "its was a brief and intense courtship"
	4.	prayer - a fixed text used in praying religious text, religious writing, sacred text, sacred writing - writing that is venerated for the worship of a deity Agnus Dei - a liturgical prayer beginning with these Latin words Mass - a sequence of prayers constituting the Christian Eucharistic rite; "the priest said Mass" Shema - a liturgical prayer (considered to be the essence of Jewish religion) that is recited at least twice daily by adult Jewish males to declare their faith; "as soon as Leonard learned to talk he was taught to recite the first words of the Shema, the creed of Judaism which originated on Sinai with Moses and is recited daily"
	5.	prayer - someone who prays to God supplicant religious person - a person who manifests devotion to a deity beadsman, bedesman - a person who is paid to pray for the soul of another

prayer

noun

1. supplication, devotion, communion The night was spent in prayer and meditation.

2. orison, litany, invocation, intercession prayers of thanksgiving

3. plea, appeal, suit, request, petition, entreaty, supplication Say a quick prayer I don't get stopped for speeding.

Quotations
"More things are wrought by prayer"
"Than this world dreams of" [Alfred, Lord Tennyson Morte d'Arthur]
"The wish for prayer is a prayer in itself" [Georges Bernanos Journal d'un cure de campagne]
"In prayer the lips ne'er act the winning part,"
"Without the sweet concurrence of the heart" [Robert Herrick The Heart]
"One single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer" [G.E. Lessing Minna von Barnhelm]

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

prayer¹

noun

1. The act of praying:

invocation, supplication.

2. A formula of words used in praying:

collect, litany, orison, rogation (often used in plural).

3. An earnest or urgent request:

appeal, entreaty, imploration, plea, supplication.

4. Law. An application to a higher authority, as for sanction or a decision:

appeal, petition.

prayer²

noun

One who humbly entreats:

beggar, suitor, suppliant, supplicant.

Translations

صَلاةصَلاه

rés

modlitbamotlitba

bøn

Gebet Prediger

προσευχή

oración rezo orador oradora plegaria

rukouspyyntörukoileminenrukoilla

prière oraison

molitva

ima

bæn

preghiera supplica orazione pregatore

祈り

기도

gebed bede bidden

bønn

modlitwa

oração orador carola culto missa

молитва молебен

modlitba

molitev

molbamolitimolitva

bön

ผู้สวดมนต์

dua

lời cầu nguyện

祈祷

prayer

[prɛəʳ]

A. N

1. (Rel) → oración f, rezo m; (= entreaty) → oración f, plegaria f
a prayer for peace → una oración por la paz
Lord, hear our prayer → Señor, escucha nuestras plegarias or súplicas
the Book of Common Prayer → la liturgia de la Iglesia Anglicana
to be at one's prayers → estar rezando
they offered (up) prayers of thanks → ofrecían rezos en acción de gracias
to say one's prayers → orar, rezar
say a prayer for me → reza por mí
he didn't have a prayer → no tenía ni la menor posibilidad

2. (as service) → oficio m
morning/evening prayer(s) → oficio m de maitines/vísperas

B. CPD prayer beads NPL → rosario m
prayer book N → devocionario m, misal m
prayer mat N → alfombra f de rezo
prayer meeting N → reunión f de oraciones

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

prayer

[ˈprɛə^r]

n (RELIGION) → prière f
to say a prayer for sb → dire une prière pour qn
to say one's prayers → dire ses prières
he hasn't got a prayer → il n'a pas l'ombre d'une chance
to be the answer to sb's prayers (= just what is needed) → être la réponse aux prières de qn prayers

npl (= service) evening prayers → la prière du soir
to attend prayers → assister à la prière Friday prayers

modif [mat, beads] → de prièreprayer book n → livre m de prièresprayer meeting n → réunion f de prière

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

prayer

n → Gebet nt; (= service, prayer meeting) → Andacht f; to say one’s prayers → beten, seine Gebete verrichten (geh); to be at prayer → beim Gebet sein; he will lead our prayers → er wird uns im Gebet führen; a prayer for peace → ein Gebet für den Frieden; a life of prayer → ein Leben im Gebet; Evening Prayer → Abendandacht f; we attended Morning Prayer → wir besuchten die Morgenandacht; we have prayers every morning → wir haben jeden Morgen eine Andacht; family prayers → Hausandacht f; the Book of Common Prayer das Gebetbuch der anglikanischen Kirche; my one prayer is that … → ich bete nur, dass …

prayer

prayer beads

pl → Gebetsperlen pl

prayer book

n → Gebetbuch nt

prayer mat

n → Gebetsteppich m

prayer meeting

n → Gebetsstunde f

prayer rug

n = prayer mat

prayer shawl

n → Gebetsmantel m

prayer wheel

n → Gebetsmühle f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

prayer

[prɛəʳ] n → preghiera
to say one's prayers → dire or recitare le preghiere

pray

(prei) verb

1. to speak reverently to God or a god in order to express thanks, make a request etc. Let us pray; She prayed to God to help her.

2. to hope earnestly. Everybody is praying for rain.

ˈprayer noun

(an) act of praying. a book of prayer; The child said his prayers; My prayers have been answered (=I've got what I desired).

pray is a verb: to pray (not prey) for peace.

prayer

→ صَلاة motlitba bøn Gebet προσευχή oración rukous prière molitva preghiera 祈り 기도 gebed bønn modlitwa oração молитва bön ผู้สวดมนต์ dua lời cầu nguyện 祈祷

prayer

n oración f

References in classic literature ?

"They'll read and sing a sacred song, And make a prayer both loud and long, And teach the right and do the wrong, Hailing the brother, sister throng, With words of heavenly union.

View in context

Then she heard the muttered words of prayer, in the midst of which she started, and would have arisen.

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"The book of Common Prayer is the composition of men like ourselves.

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One night when the old countess, in nightcap and dressing jacket, without her false curls, and with her poor little knob of hair showing under her white cotton cap, knelt sighing and groaning on a rug and bowing to the ground in prayer, her door creaked and Natasha, also in a dressing jacket with slippers on her bare feet and her hair in curlpapers, ran in.

View in context

After I get into bed I'll imagine out a real nice prayer to say always.

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Eliot, at the close of his Indian Grammar, mentions him as "a pregnant-witted young man, who had been a servant in an English house, who pretty well understood his own language, and had a clear pronunciation." He took this Indian into his family, and by constant intercourse with him soon become sufficiently conversant with the vocabulary and construction of the language to translate the ten commandments, the Lord's prayer, and several passages of Scripture, besides composing exhortations and prayers.

View in context

A part of it is passed in prayer and religious ceremonies.

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The only thing that saved him in that state of mind was obedience and work, and the fact that the whole day was occupied by prayer. He went through the usual forms of prayer, he bowed in prayer, he even prayed more than usual, but it was lip-service only and his soul was not in it.

View in context

Bow your head in prayer; sing all the hymns, but not too loud and bold; ask after Mis' Strout's boy; tell everybody what awful colds we've got; if you see a good chance, take your pocket handkerchief and wipe the dust off the melodeon before the meetin' begins, and get twenty-five cents out of the sittin' room match-box in case there should be a collection."

View in context

By 7 o'clock in the evening, dinner was about over; an hour's promenade on the upper deck followed; then the gong sounded and a large majority of the party repaired to the after cabin (upper), a handsome saloon fifty or sixty feet long, for prayers. The unregenerated called this saloon the "Synagogue." The devotions consisted only of two hymns from the Plymouth Collection and a short prayer, and seldom occupied more than fifteen minutes.

View in context

"Charitable person," he said, "whoever you may be grant me yet another prayer. Strike me, I beg of you, one blow.

View in context

It includes, for instance,-- what is a command, a prayer, a statement, a threat, a question, an answer, and so forth.

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