Pray

From Middle English preien, from Anglo-Norman preier, from Old French preier, proier, (French prier), from Late Latin precÄre, from Latin precÄrÄ«, present active infinitive of precor, from prex, precis, â€œa prayer, a requestâ€; akin to Sanskrit prach â€œto askâ€, Old English frignan, fricgan, German fragen, Dutch vragen. Confer deprecate, imprecate, precarious.

Full definition of pray

To petition or solicit help from a supernatural or higher being.Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca.
To humbly beg a person for aid or their time.
(religion) to communicate with God for any reason.
(obsolete) To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.

1816, Jane Austen, Emma (novel), Volume 1 Chapter 8"Pray, Mr. Knightley," said Emma, who had been smiling to herself through a great part of this speech, "how do you know that Mr. Martin did not speak yesterday?"
Charles Dickens, , , 1841:Pray donâ€™t ask me why, pray donâ€™t be sorry, pray donâ€™t be vexed with me!
Frederick Marryat, , , 1845:Well, Major, pray tell us your adventures, for you have frightened us dreadfully.
1892, Arthur Conan Doyle, Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue your most interesting statement.
2013, Martina Hyde, Is the pope Catholic? (in The Guardian, 20 September 2013)http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/20/is-pope-catholic-atheists-gay-people-abortionHe is a South American, so perhaps revolutionary spirit courses through Francis's veins. But what, pray, does the Catholic church want with doubt?