Prayer

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /pɹɛə(ɹ)/
• US enPR: prâr, IPA: /pɹɛɹ/, /ˈpɹeɪəɹ

• UK IPA: /ˈpɹeɪə(ɹ)/
• US enPR: prāʹər, IPA: /ˈpɹeɪəɹ/

From Middle English preiere, from Anglo-Norman preiere, from Old French priere, proiere, from Medieval Latin or Late Latin precāria, feminine of Latin precārius ("obtained by entreaty"), from precor ("beg, entreat").

Full definition of prayer

Noun

1. A practice of communicating with one's God.
   Through prayer I ask for God's blessings.
2. The act of praying.
• 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 5, Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, …, down the nave to the western door. … At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.
3. In many cultures, prayer involves singing.
4. The specific words or methods used for praying.
   Christians recite the Lord's Prayer.
   For Baha'is theres a difference between obligatory and devotional prayer.
5. A meeting held for the express purpose of praying.
   Grandpa never misses a chance to go to prayer.
6. A request; a petition.
   This, your honor, is my prayer; that all here be set free.

Synonyms

• orison, precation

Derived terms

• not have a prayer
• prayer book
• prayer meeting
• friday prayer
• prayer wheel

{1} + -er.

Noun

1. One who prays.Yep, Grandpa is a real prayer all right.