prayer S3 W3 /preə $ prer/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: preiere , from Latin precaria , from prex ; ⇨ ↑ pray 1 ]
1 . [countable] words that you say when praying to God or gods:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
The children said their prayers and got into bed.
God has answered your prayer.
prayer for
a prayer for the dead
⇨ LORD’S PRAYER
2 . [uncountable] when someone prays, or the regular habit of praying:
the power of prayer
a prayer meeting
in prayer
The congregation knelt in prayer.
3 . [countable] a wish or hope that something will happen:
Her prayer was that she would pass her exams.
4 . prayers [plural] a regular religious meeting in a church, school etc, at which people pray together:
Prayers are at eight o'clock.
5 . not have a prayer (of doing something) informal to have no chance of succeeding:
He tried hard, but he didn’t have a prayer.
They don’t have a prayer of winning.
6 . an/the answer to sb’s prayers informal something that someone wants or needs very much:
The job was an answer to my prayers.
⇨ on a wing and a prayer at ↑ wing 1 (10)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ say a prayer
Say a prayer for me.
▪ utter a prayer formal (=say a prayer)
When she recovered, she uttered a prayer of thanks.
▪ offer a prayer (=say a prayer in a formal way, often in a group)
Special prayers were offered for the boys during a service yesterday.
▪ hear somebody's prayer
God must have heard my prayers.
▪ answer somebody's prayer (=respond to a prayer, especially by giving you what you ask for)
One day my prayers were answered.
▪ be in somebody's prayers (=be prayed for)
You are always in my prayers.
■ adjectives
▪ a silent prayer
He said a silent prayer as he walked.
■ prayer + NOUN
▪ a prayer book (=book containing prayers)
▪ a prayer mat/rug (=small cloth on which Muslims kneel to pray)
▪ a prayer meeting (=meeting at which people pray together)
▪ a prayer service (=church service at which people pray)