pray

Etymology 1

From Middle English preien, from Anglo-Norman preier, from Old French preier, proier, (French prier), from Latin precārī, from prex, precis (“a prayer, a request”), from Proto-Italic *preks, from Proto-Indo-European *preḱ- (“to ask, woo”). Cognate via Indo-European of Old English frignan, fricgan, German fragen, Dutch vragen. Compare deprecate, imprecate, precarious.

verb

1. (religion) To direct words, thoughts, or one's attention to God or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc.
   Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca.
   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. 13 Jan 2021, Bethan McKernan, “Turkey drought: Istanbul could run out of water in 45 days”, in The Guardian
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.
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.
   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. 1890, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 2, page 370
   I humbly pray to the Honorable Court for the order for the removal of the publication which contains fake news to be granted. 2021, Yang di-Pertuan Agong, “Schedule”, in Emergency (Essential Powers) (No. 2) Ordinance 2021, page 31

Etymology 2

Ellipsis of I pray you, I pray thee, whence also prithee.

adv

1. (archaic or formal) Please; used to make a polite request
   pray silence for…
   Well, Major, pray tell us your adventures, for you have frightened us dreadfully. 1845, Frederick Marryat, “Chapter XXI”, in The Mission
   Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue your most interesting statement. 1892, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb
2. Alternative form of pray tell (“I ask you (insincerely)”)
   He is a South American, so perhaps revolutionary spirit courses through Francis's veins. But what, pray, does the Catholic church want with doubt? 20 September 2013, Martina Hyde, “Is the pope Catholic?”, in The Guardian