praying

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pray

(prā)

v. prayed, pray·ing, prays

v.intr.

To utter or address a prayer or prayers to a deity or an object of worship, often as an entreaty: people praying in the pews of the church; people praying for divine guidance; people praying for their loved ones.

v.tr.

1. To use prayer to request (that something may happen): The congregation prayed that the drought would end soon. The child prayed to be more considerate of others.

2. To say (a prayer or group of prayers): pray the rosary.

3. To make a devout or earnest request for: I pray your forgiveness.

4. To utter or say a prayer or prayers to; address by prayer: "I pray Heaven that I never may forget the dear girl" (Charles Dickens).

5. Archaic To ask (someone) imploringly for something; beseech. Used chiefly in the phrase I pray you to introduce a polite or urgent request or question: I pray you be careful.

adv.

Used to make a polite or urgent request or question: Pray don't apologize.

[Middle English preien, from Old French preier, from Latin precārī, from precēs, pl. of *prex, prayer; see prek- in Indo-European roots.]

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.

praying

(ˈpreɪɪŋ)

adj

(Ecclesiastical Terms) uttering prayers (to God or other object of worship)

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

Translations

praying

[ˈpreɪɪŋ] n → preghiere fpl

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

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References in classic literature ?

Unexpectedly, in the middle of the service, and not in the usual order Natasha knew so well, the deacon brought out a small stool, the one he knelt on when praying on Trinity Sunday, and placed it before the doors of the sanctuary screen.

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What do you mean by flopping yourself down and praying agin me?"

"I was not praying against you; I was praying for you."

your mother's a nice woman, young Jerry, going a praying agin your father's prosperity.

Master Cruncher (who was in his shirt) took this very ill, and, turning to his mother, strongly deprecated any praying away of his personal board.

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Then Penn's went on alone, and Salters slipped off his hat, for Penn was praying. Presently the little man came up the steps, huge drops of sweat on his face, and looked at the crew.

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"Whatever are you about, ye grown- up children?" he exclaimed, pulling up the praying ones from the ground.

Is thy spirit not too cleanly for this praying and the fumes of those devotees?"

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REUTERS/Waleed Ali CAIRO -- 10 August 2019: Hundred thousands of Muslim worshippers headed this morning to central Mecca's Mount Arafat, also known as the Mount of Mercy, praying to God for forgiveness and blessings.

In Pics: Muslim pilgrims pray on Mount Arafat in Mecca

1 / 16 Pilgrims arrive on the first day of Hajj in Mina on Friday, where they will worship and spend the night praying and resting ahead of traveling to Mount Arafat Saturday.

Hajj 2019 Day 1: More than 2 million pilgrims make their way from Makkah to Mina

'And when he was being threatened with impeachment, they were even praying that he should die.

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Interestingly, when asked if praying in tongues or a person's native language was more useful, 40% noted the native language should at least sometimes be used while 40% expressed it made no difference.