prayer

prayer ¹  (prâr)

n.

1.

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.

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.

5.

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 of a complainant, as stated in a complaint or in equity, that the court grant the aid or relief solicited.

b. The section of the complaint or bill that contains this request.

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[Middle English preiere, from Old French, from Medieval Latin precria, from feminine of Latin precrius, obtained by entreaty, from precr, to entreat; see pray.]

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pray·er ²  (prr)

n.

One who prays.

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prayer¹

n

1. (Christianity / 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. (Christianity / 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. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) the practice of praying prayer is our solution to human problems

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

5. (Christianity / 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]

prayerless  adj

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prayer²

n

(Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) a person who prays

Thesaurus

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

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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]

Translations

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

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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 prière
prayer book n → livre m de prières
prayer meeting n → réunion f de prière

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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 …

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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

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

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

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prayer → صلاة 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