Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Prayer
Pray′er
,Noun.
One who prays; a supplicant.
Prayer
([GREEK]; 277)
, Noun.
[OE. ]
preiere
, OF. preiere
, F. prière
, fr. L. precarius
obtained by prayer, fr. precari
to pray. See Pray
, Verb.
I.
1.
The act of praying, or of asking a favor; earnest request or entreaty; hence, a petition or memorial addressed to a court or a legislative body.
“Their meek preyere.” Chaucer
2.
The act of addressing supplication to a divinity, especially to the true God; the offering of adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving to the Supreme Being;
as, public
prayer
; secret prayer
.As he is famed for mildness, peace, and
prayer
. Shakespeare
3.
The form of words used in praying; a formula of supplication; an expressed petition; especially, a supplication addressed to God;
as, a written or extemporaneous
prayer
; to repeat one’s prayers
.He made those excellent
prayers
which were published immediately after his death. Bp. Fell.
Prayer book
, a book containing devotional prayers.
– Prayer meeting
, a meeting or gathering for prayer to God.
Syn. – Petition; orison; supplication; entreaty; suit.
Webster 1828 Edition
Prayer
PRA'YER
,Noun.
1.
In worship, a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of God's glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits. A prayer however may consist of a single petition, and it may be extemporaneous, written or printed.2.
A formula of church service, or of worship, public or private.3.
Practice of supplication. As he is famed for mildness, peace and prayer.
4.
That part of a memorial or petition to a public body, which specifies the request or thing desired to be done or granted, as distinct from the recital of facts or reasons for the grant. We say, the prayer of the petition is that the petitioner may be discharged from arrest.Definition 2024
prayer
prayer
English
Pronunciation
Noun
prayer (plural prayers)
- A practice of communicating with one's God.
- Through prayer I ask for God's blessings.
- The act of praying.
- 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 5, in The Mirror and the Lamp:
- 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.
- In many cultures, prayer involves singing.
-
- The specific words or methods used for praying.
- Christians recite the Lord's Prayer.
- 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.
- A request; a petition.
- This, your honor, is my prayer; that all here be set free.
- (mostly in negative constructions) The remotest hope or chance.
- That team doesn't have a prayer of winning the championship.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Derived terms
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Translations
practice of communicating with one's God
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the act of praying
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the specific words or methods used for praying
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a meeting held for the express purpose of praying
a request; a petition
Etymology 2
Pronunciation
Noun
prayer (plural prayers)
- One who prays.
- 1974, Shel Silverstein, “Invitation”, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Harper Collins Publishers:
- If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar / A hope-er[sic], a pray-er[sic], 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.
- 1974, Shel Silverstein, “Invitation”, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Harper Collins Publishers: