I. pray 1 S3 W3 /preɪ/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: preier , from Latin precari , from prex 'request, prayer' ]
1 . to speak to God in order to ask for help or give thanks ⇨ prayer :
They went to the mosque to pray.
pray for
Let us pray for peace.
pray to
Martha prayed to God for help.
pray (that)
He prayed that his sight might be restored.
2 . to wish or hope very strongly that something will happen or is true
pray (that)
Paul was praying that no one had noticed his absence.
I hope and pray that this is a misunderstanding.
pray for
We’re praying for good weather tomorrow.
II. pray 2 BrE AmE adverb [sentence adverb]
old-fashioned used when politely asking a question or telling someone to do something SYN please :
Pray be seated.
And who, pray tell, is this?