Prayer
[preə] or [prɛr]
Definition
(noun.) the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving); 'the priest sank to his knees in prayer'.
(noun.) a fixed text used in praying.
(noun.) reverent petition to a deity.
(noun.) someone who prays to God.
Edited by Bessie--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) One who prays; a supplicant.
(v. i.) The act of praying, or of asking a favor; earnest request or entreaty; hence, a petition or memorial addressed to a court or a legislative body.
(v. i.) The act of addressing supplication to a divinity, especially to the true God; the offering of adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving to the Supreme Being; as, public prayer; secret prayer.
(v. i.) The form of words used in praying; a formula of supplication; an expressed petition; especially, a supplication addressed to God; as, a written or extemporaneous prayer; to repeat one's prayers.
Checked by Abram
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Supplication, entreaty, suit, petition, request, SUFFRAGE.
Editor: Pasquale
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Petition, supplication, entreaty, orison, benediction, suit, request,[SeeBENEDICTION]
Checker: Mandy
Unserious Contents or Definition
To dream of repeating the Lord's Prayer, foretells that you are threatened with secret foes and will need the alliance and the support of friends to tide you over difficulties. To hear others repeat it, denotes the danger of some friend.
To dream of saying prayers, or seeing others doing so, foretells you will be threatened with failure, which will take strenuous efforts to avert.
Typed by Benjamin
Examples
- His nature was not changed by one hour of solemn prayer: it was only elevated. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- The prayer-bell rang; I obeyed its summons. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- And when my only prayer was to be taken off from the rest and when it was such inexplicable agony and misery to be a part of the dreadful thing? Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- After a spacebreathless and spent in prayer, a penitent approached the confessional. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- I cannot resist your prayer. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- I had some years before composed a little liturgy or form of prayer for my own private use (viz. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- In some sisterhood of the strictest order, shalt thou have time for prayer and fitting penance, and that repentance not to be repented of. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- The magnificent melody of the Prayer in Rossini's Moses, sung in a sonorous bass voice, rose grandly through the suburban silence of the place. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- God is about to grant the prayer I have made to him, thought I,--ever sanguine in what I wished--I shall die by his own will. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- I used also, sometimes, a little prayer which I took from Thomson's Poems, viz. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- Private prayer is inaudible speech, and speech is representative: who can represent himself just as he is, even in his own reflections? George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- They were private, and were filled with arguments; some of these taking the form of prayer. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- The white vapor of the kiln was passing from us as we went by, and as I had thought a prayer before, I thought a thanksgiving now. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- Had no one a wish, no one a word, no one a prayer to which I could say--Amen? Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- She came into the nursery one evening just after I had listened to Georgette's lisped and broken prayer, and had put her to bed. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Then I remembered all at once that I had not said my prayers that morning. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- There are names, and Christian symbols, and prayers, or sentences expressive of Christian hopes, carved upon nearly every sarcophagus. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- She thought about him the very first moment on waking; and his was the very last name mentioned in her prayers. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- The meal over, prayers were read by Miss Miller, and the classes filed off, two and two, upstairs. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- I began sometimes to pray: very brief prayers they were, but very sincere. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- Tom, therefore, remained behind, with a few who had learned of him to pray, and offered up prayers for the escape of the fugitives. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Prayers and invocations would be made. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- And then I said my prayers and thought a little more. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- He would have prayers in the house, I believe. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- And if prayers have efficacy, yours will benefit me. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- At first this, and her terrific screams, were all that could be got from Rachael, by any tears, by any prayers, by any representations, by any means. Charles Dickens. Hard Times.
- Dreadful doubt and anguish--prayers and fears and griefs unspeakable--followed the regiment. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Have we a right to repeat or to overhear her prayers? William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- My picture was in her room, and I was in her prayers. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- He used, indeed, sometimes to pray for my conversion, but never had the satisfaction of believing that his prayers were heard. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
Inputed by Bess