\Pray\, n. & v.
See {Pry}. [Obs.] --Spenser.

\Pray\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Prayed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Praying}.] [OE. preien, OF. preier, F. prier, L. precari,
fr. prex, precis, a prayer, a request; akin to Skr. prach to
ask, AS. frignan, fr[=i]nan, fricgan, G. fragen, Goth.
fra['i]hnan. Cf. {Deprecate}, {Imprecate}, {Precarious}.]
To make request with earnestness or zeal, as for something
desired; to make entreaty or supplication; to offer prayer to
a deity or divine being as a religious act; specifically, to
address the Supreme Being with adoration, confession,
supplication, and thanksgiving.

      And to his goddess pitously he preyde.   --Chaucer.

      When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou
      hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in
      secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall
      reward thee openly.                      --Matt. vi. 6.

{I pray}, or (by ellipsis) {Pray}, I beg; I request; I
   entreat you; -- used in asking a question, making a
   request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me
   to go.

         I pray, sir. why am I beaten?         --Shak.

Syn: To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech;
     petition.

\Pray\, v. t.
1. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat;
   to implore; to beseech.

         And as this earl was preyed, so did he. --Chaucer.

         We pray you . . . by ye reconciled to God. --2 Cor.
                                               v. 20.

2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication;
   to entreat for.

         I know not how to pray your patience. --Shak.

3. To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out
   of purgatory. --Milman.

{To pray in aid}. (Law)
   (a) To call in as a helper one who has an interest in the
       cause. --Bacon.
   (b) A phrase often used to signify claiming the benefit of
       an argument. See under {Aid}. --Mozley & W.