a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.
the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship.
a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying: the Lord's Prayer.
prayers,a religious observance, either public or private, consisting wholly or mainly of prayer.
that which is prayed for.
a petition; entreaty.
the section of a bill in equity, or of a petition, that sets forth the complaint or the action desired.
a negligible hope or chance: Do you think he has a prayer of getting that job?
Origin of prayer
1
1250–1300; Middle English preiere<Old French <Medieval Latin precāria, noun use of feminine of precārius obtained by entreaty, equivalent to prec- (stem of prex) prayer + -ārius-ary; cf. precarious
Before I go out on tour, I ask for prayer and to help my family.
Down With the King: Christianity Isn’t Hiding in Rap’s Closet|Stereo Williams|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After the Thursday prayer, the crowd of Congressional staff and lawmakers posed in the iconic, "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" pose.
Capitol Hill's Black Staffers Walk Out to Say ‘Hands Up, Don't Shoot!’|Tim Mak|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the end of his prayer, the grand mufti whispered aloud: “May God accept it.”
Does Pope Francis Believe Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?|Jay Parini|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Highway safety flares provided light as the clans joined by loss sought solace in prayer and song.
The Cleveland Cops Who Fired 137 Shots and Cried Victim|Michael Daly|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You are also not allowed to film or photograph a royal ‘at prayer’.
Media, Dress Smart For Kate|Tom Sykes|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Bishop did not understand Latin so offered up a prayer for he and she mules.
The Rise of the Mediaeval Church|Alexander Clarence Flick
Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from deceitful lips.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
They estimate the efficacy of prayer by its quantity and not by its quality.
Wit and Humor of the Bible|Marion D. Shutter
The cloud of blessing floats over our heads, but we fail to stretch forth the electric rod of prayer to fetch it down!
The Hart and the Water-Brooks;|John R. Macduff
It purifies them, it gives intelligence to the hand, it disposes the heart to prayer.
Delsarte System of Oratory|Various
British Dictionary definitions for prayer (1 of 2)
prayer1
/ (prɛə) /
noun
a personal communication or petition addressed to a deity, esp in the form of supplication, adoration, praise, contrition, or thanksgiving
any other form of spiritual communion with a deity
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
the practice of prayingprayer is our solution to human problems
(often plural)a form of devotion, either public or private, spent mainly or wholly prayingmorning prayers
(capital when part of a recognized name)a form of words used in prayingthe Lord's Prayer
an object or benefit prayed for
an earnest request, petition, or entreaty
lawa request contained in a petition to a court for the relief sought by the petitioner
slanga chance or hopeshe doesn't have a prayer of getting married
Derived forms of prayer
prayerless, adjective
Word Origin for prayer
C13 preiere, from Old French, from Medieval Latin precāria, from Latin precārius obtained by begging, from prex prayer
British Dictionary definitions for prayer (2 of 2)
Where Did The Phrase “Thoughts And Prayers” Come From?While increased attention to the calamities of the world is in theory a good thing, hearing about every single tragedy doesn't necessarily correlate with absolute empathy. At the very least, people—especially politicians—tend to offer up a phrase or two to acknowledge a misfortune. One of the most popular phrases? "Thoughts and prayers."
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What Does Amen Mean At The End Of A Prayer?Weekends are when many Americans gather in their respective houses of worship and repeat the same word: amen. But, what does the word mean? And, why do people say it?