'Praying' definitions:
Definition of 'Praying'
From: GCIDE
- Pray \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[imac]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. [1913 Webster]
- And to his goddess pitously he preyde. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- I pray, sir. why am I beaten? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Praying'
From: GCIDE
- Praying \Pray"ing\, a. & n. from Pray, v. [1913 Webster]
- Praying insect, Praying locust, or Praying mantis (Zool.), a mantis, especially Mantis religiosa. See Mantis.
- Praying machine, or Praying wheel, a wheel on which prayers are pasted by Buddhist priests, who then put the wheel in rapid revolution. Each turn in supposed to have the efficacy of an oral repetition of all the prayers on the wheel. Sometimes it is moved by a stream. [1913 Webster]