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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…

One who prays; a supplicant.

Given to prayer; praying much or often; devotional. "The prayerful man." J. S. Blackie. -- Prayer"ful*ly, adv. -- Prayer"ful*ness, n.

Not using prayer; habitually neglecting prayer to God; without prayer. "The next time you go prayerless to bed." Baxter. -- Prayer"less*ly, adv. -- Prayer"less*ness, n.

a. & n. from Pray, v. Praying insect, locust, or mantis (Zoöl.), 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…

With supplication to God.

The prayer for the souls of benefactors, said before the sermon.

The fishhawk.

To exceed or excel in prayer.

ot or branch; a twig. Chaucer. The painted birds, companions of the spring, Hopping from spray, were heard to sing. Dryden.

See Dashboard, n., 2 (b).

One that sprays; any instrument for vaporizing and spraying liquids.

To revoke or annul by prayer, as something previously prayed for. [R.] Sir M. Hale.

Not to be influenced or moved by prayers; obdurate. [R.] Wyclif.

Not prayed for. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

Purification by washing the hands before prayer; -- a Mohammedan rite. Heyse.

diator of an accord and peace between them. Bacon. These all continued with one accord in prayer. Acts i. 14.

rformances. Shak. Let your holy and pious intention be actual; that is . . . by a special prayer or action, . . . given to God. Jer. Taylor.

The form of oath or appeal. Persons who . . . made use of prayer and adjurations. Addison.

In time past; formerly. "He prayed . . . as he did aforetime." Dan. vi. 10.