/ preə(r); NAmE prer/ noun
1.
[ C ] prayer (for sb/sth) words which you say to God giving thanks or asking for help :
to say your prayers
prayers for the sick
He arrived at that very moment, as if in answer to her prayer .
Their prayers were answered and the child was found safe and well.
2.
[ C ] a fixed form of words that you can say when you speak to God :
It was a prayer she had learnt as a child.
—see also the Lord's Prayer
3.
[ U ] the act or habit of praying :
They knelt in prayer.
We believe in the power of prayer.
4.
prayers [ pl. ] a religious meeting that takes place regularly in which people say prayers
5.
[ C , usually sing. ] a thing that you hope for very much :
My prayer is that one day he will walk again.
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IDIOMS
see wing noun
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IDIOMS
- not have a prayer (of doing sth)
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French preiere , based on Latin precarius obtained by entreaty, from prex , prec- prayer.