▪ I. prayer1
(prɛə(r))
Forms: 3–4 preiere, 3–6 praiere, 4 preire, preyer, -or, praey-, praiyer, pray-, praior, 4–5 preyere, preier, preir, 4–6 prayere, praire, praer, prayour, 4–7 praier, prair, 5 preyȝer, prayeer, 6 prayar, 7 prayr(e, 7–8 pray'r, 4– prayer.
[ME. preiere, a. OF. preiere (12th c. in Littré), 13th c. and mod.F. prière = Pr. pregaria, Sp. plegaria, It. preghiera:—Romanic and med.L. precāria fem. sing., orig. neut. pl. of L. precārius adj., obtained by entreaty or prayer, f. precārī to pray. Orig. a disyllable: still so in G. Herbert.]
1. a. A solemn and humble request to God, or to an object of worship; a supplication, petition, or thanksgiving, usually expressed in words.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 13649 (Cott.) Þis es a man þat drightin heres, And helpes oþer for his praieres. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 317 Þei passen oþere in preyeris. 1388 ― Ps. liv. 1 God, here thou my preier. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xviii. 86 May no preiour pees make in no place, hit semeþ. a 1400–50 Alexander 1483 Putten þaim to prayers & pennance indurett. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 3911 When þe quene hadde made hurre preyȝerus þus. c 1425 Hampole's Psalter Metr. Pref., Prayours be the which me wynneth, þe grace of god all myȝtye. 1529 More Dyaloge i. Wks. 165/1 And so would I..knele me downe and make my speciall prayour to God. 1595 Spenser Col. Clout 882 With praiers lowd importuning the skie. 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Church-porch lxix, Resort to sermons, but to prayers most. a 1711 Ken Hymnotheo Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 249 His Alarum to his Midnight Pray'r. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. 106 This was the first Prayer, if I may call it so, that I had made for many Years. 1864 Tennyson En. Ard. 127 Rejoicing at that answer to his prayer. 1904 M. Corelli God's Good Man xxix, The prayers of this congregation..are desired for Maryllia V{ddd}whose life is now in imminent peril. |
b. The action or practice of praying to the Divine Being.
passive prayer: see
quot. 1727–41.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 3138 (Cott.) Þat child..was sa mani yere, Ar it was send, soght wit praiyer. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. viii. 104 Of preyere and of penaunce my plouh schal ben herafter. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 76 Preiere stondiþ principaly in good lif. 1526 Tindale Luke vi. 12 He..continued all nyght in prayer to god. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. i. 156 He is fam'd for Mildnesse, Peace, and Prayer. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. ii. Disc. xii. 142 Prayer is the ascent of the mind to God. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl., Passive prayer, in the language of mystick divines, is a total suspension, or ligature of the intellectual faculties, in virtue whereof the soul remains, of itself and as to its own power, impotent with regard to the producing of any effects. 1819 Montgomery Hymn, Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, Uttered or unexprest. 1842 Tennyson Morte D'Arthur 247 More things are wrought by prayer Than this world dreams of. 1883 Catholic Dict. s.v. Meditation, It is important to notice that in passive prayer ‘free will exercises itself in the whole of its extent’. |
c. pl. Petitions to God for his blessing upon some one; hence, earnest good wishes.
| 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. i. 14 And concludes in heartie prayers, That your Attempts may ouer-liue the hazard. 1608 ― Per. iii. iii. 34 Madam, my thanks and prayers. 1613 ― Hen. VIII iii. i. 180 He..shall haue my Prayers While I shall haue my life. 1632 Massinger City Madam i. i, For it you have my prayers, The beggar's satisfaction. 1864 Tennyson Aylmer's F. 751 Give me your prayers, for he is past your prayers. |
d. Slang
phr. not to have (or have got) a prayer: to have no chance.
| 1941 B. Schulberg What makes Sammy Run? vi. 92 Get..back to New York. You won't have a prayer around here. 1957 R. A. Heinlein Door into Summer ii. 46 ‘I'm going to give you some advice.’..‘Well?’ ‘Do nothing. You haven't got a prayer.’ 1968 E. B. White Let. 30 Dec. (1976) 574, I wish you luck. I don't think you have a prayer. 1973 A. Ross Dunfermline Affair 113 He went for me... He was a big lad, and strong, but he didn't have a prayer. An amateur up against a professional almost never does. 1977 Time 10 Oct. 9/3 Mitterrand was prepared to sign anything back in 1972, when his party did not have a prayer of coming to power. |
2. A formula appointed for or used in praying;
e.g. the
Lord's Prayer (
lord n. 6 c).
| 1389 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 23 Yis bede and preyer shal bene reherside and seyde at euery tyme. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 169 b, This prayer may be diuided in to two partes. 1545 Primer Hen. VIII, The Prayer of our Lord. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion, The Priest..shall saie the Lordes praier. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. iii. xl. 254 That excellent prayer, used in the Consecrations of all Churches. 1662 Bk. Com. Prayer, A Collect or Prayer for all Conditions of men, to be used at such times when the Litany is not appointed to be read. 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian x, They stopped..to repeat some prayer or sing a hymn. 1884 Before the Altar (1885) 60 Then the Priest kneeling says the Prayer of Humble Access, which you can follow. |
3. A religious observance, public or private, of which prayer to God forms a principal part; a form of divine service; as the service of
Morning prayer or
Evening Prayer,
family prayers; in
pl. with possessive, one's private or individual devotions.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 28248 (Cott.) My prayers say was me ful lathe. 1382 Wyclif Acts xvi. 13 We wenten out withoute the ȝate bisydis the flood, wher preier was seyn for to be. 1526 Tindale Acts iii. 1 Peter and Ihon went vp to gedder into the temple at the nynthe houre of prayer [1611 at the houre of prayer, being the ninth houre]. 1548–9 (Mar.) (title) The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administracion of the Sacramentes..after the vse of the Churche of England. Ibid. Pref., It may plainly appere by the common prayers in the Churche, commonlye called diuine seruice. 1552 Ibid. Pref., When menne say Mornyng and Euenynge prayer [1549 Matins and Euensong] priuatly. 1573 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 2 In the morning after praiers we looked for it. 1660 Pepys Diary 21 July, At night..I read prayers out of the Common Prayer Book, the first time that ever I read prayers in this house. 1662 Ibid. 17 Aug., This being the last Sunday that the Presbyterians are to preach, unless they read the new Common Prayer. 1678 J. Phillips Tavernier's Trav. v. iii. 205 The Assassinates found him at his prayers. 1732 Law Serious C. i. (ed. 2) 1 Prayers, whether private or publick, are particular parts or instances of Devotion. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 173 The bell..Now chimes in concert, calling all to prayers. 1846–8 E. M. Sewell Laneton Parsonage vi. (1858) 50 Madeline said her prayers in haste. 1856 Amy Carlton 104 The servants came in, and they had prayers. a 1866 Keble Lett. Spir. Counsel (1870) 105 You are often hindered from the Church prayers. |
4. An entreaty made to a person; an earnest supplication or appeal for some favour.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 996 Ful prestely for þi praire..here i graunt him greþli. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. Prol., As wel considere I thy bisi preyere in special to lerne the tretis of the astrelabie. c 1400 Destr. Troy 2821 Menelay..purpost vnto Pyle by prayer of Nestor, To solas hym a season. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. 17 Atte praier of genius the quene Vaspasianus and Aruiragus were accorded. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 115, I will fall prostrate at his feete, And neuer rise vntill my teares and prayers Haue won his grace to come in person hither. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 573 Unconstrain'd he nothing tells for naught; Nor is with Pray'rs, or Bribes, or Flatt'ry bought. 1858 G. Macdonald Phantastes ix, I held it in spite of her attempts to take it from me; yes, I shame to say, in spite of her prayers, and, at last, her tears. |
5. The matter of a petition, the thing prayed for or entreated;
spec. that part of a memorial or petition to a sovereign or public body that specifies the thing desired to be granted or done (see also
quot. 1958).
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 3450 Thus hath he graunted my prayere. 14.. Tundale's Vis. (Wagner) 1786 The angelle gaf hym none answere, For he wold not do his prayere. 1676 Hobbes Iliad i. 45 His prayer was granted by the Deity. 1836 J. C. Calhoun Wks. (1874) II. 471 It is only on the question of receiving that opposition can be made to the petition itself. On all others, the opposition is to its prayer. 1937 Hansard Commons 4 June 1307, I undertake, if the House will allow the remaining Regulations to be passed now, to amend No 95 immediately, and the notification of the Amendment will, of course, be subject to a Prayer, just as the Regulations themselves are. 1946 May's Treat. Parliament (ed. 14) xiv. 286 The last item of this group consists of motions for the disallowance of statutory orders or regulations... These motions are usually in the form of addresses to the Crown praying for the annulment of orders or regulations and are hence commonly called ‘Prayers’. 1958 Wilding & Laundy Encycl. Parliament 431 Prayer, a motion to annul a Statutory Instrument... Such motions count as Exempted Business..and are taken at the end of the day's sitting. They must be moved during the forty days after the order is laid on the Table, at the expiration of which it automatically becomes law. 1968 Observer 21 Apr. 3/3 The British Medical Association..is arranging for a ‘prayer’ to be moved in Parliament. 1970 Daily Tel. 3 Nov. 2/6 Mr Enoch Powell, Conservative MP for Wolverhampton, South West, has a prayer down on the Commons Order Paper to annul the regulations. 1972 Times 23 Feb. 27/5 A..petitioner sought the direction of the court whether she might properly omit a prayer for costs from a petition which sought a decree of divorce. 1973 N.Y. Law Jrnl. 2 Aug. 5/3 Nowhere in this or any other document, has IBM denied the factual assertions, made by the United States, which are the basis for its prayer that IBM be held in contempt of court. 1975 J. P. Morgan House of Lords & Labour Govt. ii. 63 Where affirmative resolution is required both Houses must give their approval before such Orders can be passed; where an Order becomes effective unless a Prayer for annulment is carried by either House (the negative resolution procedure), the Lords again enjoy the same rights as the Commons. |
6. attrib. and
Comb. a. simple attributive, as
prayer-attitude,
prayer-desire,
prayer-ground,
prayer-hour,
prayer-house,
prayer-life,
prayer-matter,
prayer-monger,
prayer-room,
prayer service,
prayer-test,
prayer-time,
prayer-union,
prayer-word;
b. obj. and
obj. gen., as
prayer-answering,
prayer-grinding,
prayer-hearing,
prayer-lisping,
prayer-loving,
prayer-repeating,
prayer-saying, etc.,
adjs. or
ns.;
prayer-inventor,
prayer-maker;
c. instrumental, etc., as
prayer-clenched,
prayer-prospering adjs.| 1770 Cowper Hymn ‘God of my life, to Thee I call’ iv, A prayer-hearing, *answering God. 1894 H. H. Gardener Unoff. Patriot 25 Personal relationship with a prayer-answering and a praise-loving God. |
| 1953 R. Knox Off Record xliv. 148 If one does a hop from Evangelicalism to the Church the difference is not so much one of doctrines as one of *prayer-attitudes. |
| 1857 Dufferin Lett. High Lat. (ed. 3) 396 Hands—*prayer-clenched—that would not sever. |
| 1883 Jeffries Story my Heart 188 It is not strong enough to utter my *prayer-desire. |
| a 1732 T. Boston Crook in Lot (1805) 156 The hand of a *prayer-hearing God. |
| 1852 Conybeare & Howson St. Paul (1856) I. 208 All gradations..from the simple proseucha at Philippi to the magnificent *prayer-houses at Alexandria. 1856 Olmsted Slave States 450 A small chapel, which the negroes call their prayer-house. |
| 1953 R. Knox Off Record xliv. 150, I should find no difficulty in accepting the doctrine as doctrine, although it would make no addition to my own *prayer-life. |
| a 1847 Eliza Cook Future iv, The *prayer-lisping infant. |
| 1663 Flagellum or O. Cromwell 128 He was absolutely the best *prayer-maker and preacher in the Army. |
| 1680 Allen Peace & Unity Pref. 42 By such a Form *Prayer-matter is prepared with more advantage to affect such peoples minds. |
| 1801 Southey Thalaba v. xxxvi, I have led Some camel-kneed *prayer-monger through the cave. |
| 1825 R. Gordon Serm. 422 Through the whole course of a *prayer-repeating life, they had never prayed at all. |
| 1902 Daily Chron. 2 Oct. 7/1 There are hundreds of these little meeting-places and *prayer-rooms scattered about in the side streets and alleys. |
| c 1440 Alphabet of Tales cxiii. 81 He went vnto Saynt Barnard agayn, and told hym what þoght come in his mynde in þis *prayer-saying. |
| 1976 Honolulu Star-Bull. 21 Dec. f–2/3 Friends may call from 6 to 9 tonight at Dodo Mortuary, with *prayer service scheduled for 7:30. |
| 1838 Dickens O. Twist iii, Every evening at *prayer-time. |
d. Special combs.:
prayer-bill: see
quot.;
prayer bones U.S., the knees;
prayer breakfast, a breakfast during which prayers are offered;
prayer card, a card used by a Member of Parliament for reserving a seat at prayers;
prayer-carpet, a small carpet, mat, or rug used,
esp. by a Moslem, when engaged in prayer;
prayer chain, a series of people each of whom receives a written prayer with an invitation to pass it or copies of it to others;
prayer circle, a group of people who pray together;
prayer-cloak = prayer-shawl;
prayer-cure, a cure wrought by means of ‘the prayer of faith’ (
Jas. v. 15), a faith-cure;
prayer-cylinder = prayer-wheel;
prayer day, a day in Parliament on which prayers (see sense 5 above) are heard;
prayer-desk, the desk from which prayers are read in a church;
prayer-flag, in Tibet, a flag on which prayers are inscribed;
prayer-gong, a gong calling people to prayer;
prayer-mat = prayer-carpet;
prayer-niche, in a mosque, a niche in the centre of a sanctuary wall indicating the direction of Mecca;
prayer-nut, in a chaplet, a nut-shaped bead which opens to form a diptych with reliefs;
prayer-oil: see
quot.;
prayer plant, a perennial herb,
Maranta leuconeura, belonging to the family Marantaceæ, native to Brazil, bearing irregular, three-petalled, white flowers, and often cultivated as a house plant for the sake of its shiny, variegated leaves;
prayer ring = prayer circle;
prayer rug = prayer-carpet;
prayer-scarf,
-shawl, a long scarf or shawl worn round the neck or on the head by Jews when at prayer; the tallith;
prayer-stick, a stick decorated with feathers, used by the Zuñi Indians in their religious ceremonies;
prayer stool, a stool for kneeling on while praying;
prayer-thong, a phylactery;
prayer ticket = prayer card;
prayer-tower, a minaret;
prayer-value, efficacy or worth for prayer;
prayer-wall, a wall on which prayers are inscribed;
= mani2. See also
prayer-bead, -bell, -book, etc.
| 1700 T. Brown Amusem. Ser. & Com. x. 123 A Number of *Prayer-Bills, containing the Humble Petitions of divers Devoto's. |
| 1926 Amer. Speech II. 362 *Prayer bones (noun phrase), knees. ‘Everyone get down on his prayer bones.’ a 1944 J. Conroy in B. A. Botkin Treas. Amer. Folklore (1944) iv. 531 You've got to kneel down on your prayerbones... If you kneel down to save your poor old back, the little grains of sand eat into your prayerbones. 1970 C. Major Dict. Afro-Amer. Slang 93 Prayer bones, the knees. |
| 1966 New Statesman 4 Mar. 285/2 The Republican governor of Oregon, is in the vanguard of a movement that sponsors ‘*prayer breakfasts’ for politicians all around the world. 1969 Listener 28 Aug. 271/1 (caption) Billy Graham speaks at a Honolulu prayer breakfast. |
| 1959 P. G. Richards Hon. Members iv. 75 No permanent reservation of seats is allowed... A Member who intends to be present at prayers at the start of a sitting can place a ‘*prayer card’ on a bench; this card has to be obtained personally from an attendant at the House at any time after eight a.m. on the same day. 1975 Daily Tel. 16 Apr. 16 An interesting feature of the House of Commons before the Budget statement yesterday was the number of seats bearing Prayer Cards—reservations—on the Tory side. |
| 1861–2 R. Noel in Vac. Tour. 458 The first thing that struck me was the sight of a camel, and his master kneeling on a *prayer-carpet by him. |
| 1908 Westm. Gaz. 5 Oct. 4/1 Other ladies started *prayer-chains to promote or defeat the different candidates' chances of victory. 1911 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 11 Apr. 4/3 We have been requested to say something about the ‘prayer chain’ which is being worked again... We are told that in the time of Jesus it was said that whoever copied this prayer and sent it to nine persons would have great joy, and those who did not would have great sorrow. |
| 1880 P. Deming Adirondack Stories 25 As a preliminary to the sermon, a *prayer-circle was formed. |
| 1876 A. Edersheim Jewish Life Days Christ xiii. 220 During prayer they wrap themselves in the great tallith or so-called *prayer-cloak. |
| 1894 I. L. Bishop Among Tibetans ii. 46 *Prayer-cylinders which are turned by pulling ropes. 1897 Geogr. Jrnl. X. 35 A prayer-cylinder revolved by the wind. |
| 1952 Ann. Reg. 1951 17 A motion..to cut off alcoholic refreshment after 10 p.m. on ‘*prayer days’. |
| 1843 Ecclesiologist II. 22 The *Prayer-desk faces east and west. 1892 J. C. Blomfield Hist. Heyford 46 Hangings of dark blue cloth covered the pulpit, prayer-desk and clerk's desk. |
| 1882 ‘Shway Yoe’ Burman I. xvii. 225 These *prayer-flags..are made of paper, cut fancifully into figures of dragons, lizards, and the like, with embroidery⁓work round their edges. 1897 Geogr. Jrnl. X. 35 Groups of prayer-flags in memory of the dead are planted beside every village. 1936 [see obo]. 1952 [see chorten]. 1955 E. Hillary High Adventure 62 We sat down wearily in the snow beside a clump of Tibetan prayer-flags. |
| 1905 E. F. Benson Image in Sand ix. 135, I adore theosophy, *prayer-gongs, and letters from the ceiling. |
| 1885 B'ham Daily Post 5 Jan. 6/6 The fabrics include..*prayer mats (for South America). |
| 1937 Burlington Mag. Oct. 193/2 The mihrab, or *prayer-niche. 1971 Country Life 25 Feb. 426/1 The large construction..is an Iranian prayer-niche in coloured tin enamel tiles (faience). |
| 1937 Burlington Mag. Aug. 98/1 She holds a little silver chain, from which hangs..a ‘*prayer-nut’ for a chaplet, in wrought silver. 1969 E. Wilkins Rose-Garden Game ii. 59 The..Chatsworth paternoster..has a terminal bead that is a little hinged box, which opens to show two miniature relief carvings... The prayer-nut is usually made of boxwood. |
| 1867 Union Rev. V. 190 *Prayer-oil is a sacrament in which the body of the sick believer is anointed with oil by the Priests of the Church. |
| 1953 J. Hersey Garden in your Window iv. 57 The *Prayer Plant, while a bit rare, is simple to grow. 1956 Y. Field House Plants iv. 97 The small maranta is a very beautiful foliage plant. Since this plant closes its leaves at night or almost curls them together it is known as the Prayer Plant. 1977 Ward & Wellsted Indoor Plants 81/2 Maranta leuconeura... Prayer Plant, Rabbit's Tracks. This Brazilian plant has given rise to several spectacularly coloured foliage varieties. |
| 1846 Knickerbocker XXVIII. 305 When a ‘*prayer ring’ was to be formed, he announced it at the close of a sermon. |
| 1898 Atlantic Monthly Apr. 460/2, I worshiped it in silence,..the grass a natural *prayer-rug. 1904 Prayer-rug [see Kulah1]. 1930 Morning Post 16 July 8/6 This fascinating old Koula Prayer Rug is believed to have been made for the Jewish Synagogue at Toledo. 1935 H. Edib Clown & his Daughter xlviii. 277 Pembeh touched him on the shoulder and pointed to a prayer-rug spread at the threshold of the room. 1962 C. W. Jacobsen Oriental Rugs 306 Tekke Prayer Rugs are available only from estates. 1979 Guardian 26 Oct. 15/2 The bearded Ayatollahs..[are] sweeping the most pressing problems under the prayer rug. |
| 1867 Ch. News 10 July, The stole of the Deacon is called ὀραρίον which is etymologically the same with *prayer-scarf. |
| 1905 Daily Chron. 10 Oct. 6/4 At the period of confession each man, wearing his four-cornered *prayer shawl, smote his breast as he enumerated his sins. |
| 1865 Tylor Early Hist. Man. v. 88, I do not know whether any of these curious *prayer-sticks are now to be seen. 1883 Century Mag. XXVI. 29 Symbolic slats and prayer-sticks most elaborately plumed. |
| 1908 Daily Chron. 6 Apr. 1/4 As they knelt upon the wooden *prayer stool..they made no noise. |
| 1885 Encycl. Brit. XIX. 1/1 Phylactery..is the name given in the New Testament to the..(tefillîn) or ‘*prayer-thongs’ of the Jews. Every Jew wears at prayer two of these thongs. |
| 1924 J. E. Mills From Back Benches ii. 9 Lady Astor..staked out the second row corner seat below the gangway, and, attending regularly.., secured her ticket from the attendant which ‘booked’ the seat, providing she attended prayers. All went well until Mr. Joynson Hicks, returning..after nearly a year's absence, deposited his ‘*prayer ticket’ in..Lady Astor's seat. |
| 1906 W. R. Inge Truth & Falsehood in Relig. iv. 102 It does not satisfy those who really believe in the supernatural occurences, which it is proposed to maintain in consideration of their ‘*prayer-value’. 1953 R. Knox Off Record xliv. 149 It's no good contemplating becoming a Catholic unless you are prepared to accept doctrinal definitions which have, for you, no particular prayer-value. |
| 1960 C. Winick Dict. Anthropol. 562/2 Mani wall or *prayer wall, a low long wall of mud and stone, covered with flat rocks, on which Tibetan characters are carved. Devout Tibetans walk with the mani wall to their right to get benefit from it. Such walls are frequently more than a quarter of a mile long. 1974 Listener 17 Jan. 76/2 As you walk up the trail, prayer-walls bisect the paths. The act of walking past the wall is a prayer in itself. |
▪ II. prayer2 (
ˈpreɪə(r))
Also (for distinctness)
pray-er.
[f. pray v. + -er1: cf. OF. *prei-, proi-, pri-e(o)ur:—L. precātōr-em, agent-noun f. precārī to pray.] One who prays.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 412/1 Preyare, or he that preyythe, orator,..deprecator. 1483 Cath. Angl. 289/2 A Prayere,..orator, rogator. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §165 The trew prayers wyll worshyp the father of heuen in spyryt and with trouth. 1642 R. Harris Serm. 13 A good Engineere is not the worst Souldier; nor a good prayer the worst Parliament-man. 1705 Hickeringill Priest-cr. ii. viii. 78 The Women Prayers amongst the Quakers. 1843 E. Jones Sens. & Event Poems (1877) 36 And still that earnest pray-er. 1863 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. (1883) III. 162 Anything they can say about..this and the other preacher and pray-er. |