Etymology From Middle English preiere, from Old French preiere, from Early Medieval Latin precāria, derived from Latin precem. Displaced native Old English ġebed (whence modern English bead).
1
A practice of communicating with one's God, or with some spiritual entity.
Through prayer I ask for God's guidance.
In many cultures, prayer involves singing.
2
An act of praying.
Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
In that spirit, we’ll close with the wish we always offer at the end of our annual review, although this time it’s more of a prayer: Happy new year.2020 December, Dave Barry, Year in review:
3
The specific words or methods used for praying.
Christians recite the Lord's Prayer.
For Baha'is, there's a difference between obligatory prayers and devotional prayers.
4
A meeting held for the express purpose of praying.
Grandpa never misses a chance to go to prayer.
5
A request; a petition.
This, your honor, is my prayer; that all here be set free.
6
In negative constructions The remotest hope or chance.
That team doesn't have a prayer of winning the championship.
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar / A hope-er^([sic]), a pray-er^([sic]), a magic bean buyer…1974, Shel Silverstein, “Invitation”, in Where the Sidewalk Ends, Harper Collins Publishers:
Out of the 37 respondents, seven are infrequent prayers who prefer to leave the precise details of their prayer life ambiguous.2012, Paul O'Connor, Islam in Hong Kong: Muslims and Everyday Life in China's World City: