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# prayer

noun (a prayer, prayers)

«prayer» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A prayer is words that someone says to God or a god, to thank, praise or ask for help. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/#m1)
2. Prayer is the act of praying. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/#m2)
3. «Not have a prayer» means to have no chance at all. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/#m3)

### In the lessons

In religious education children learn that many faiths use prayer: Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and others. Prayers can be said aloud, sung, or thought silently, at home, at school assemblies or in places of worship. In stories a prayer shows hope or fear. Phrases: say a prayer, a prayer for, in prayer, morning prayers, the answer to my prayers.

### Examples

- Grandpa says a prayer before every meal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/#x1)
- The family bowed their heads in prayer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/#x2)
- Muslims say prayers five times a day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/#x3)
- We sang a prayer at assembly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/#x4)
- The rain was the answer to the farmers' prayers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/#x5)
- With that old bike, he doesn't have a prayer of winning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/#x6)
- Little Gerda repeated the Lord's Prayer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/#x7)

### Note

Countable: a prayer, prayers; also uncountable for the activity: «in prayer». Pronounced like «prair», one syllable. The verb is «pray» — do not confuse with «prey» (an animal hunted by another), which sounds the same.

## In Jewish tradition

Speaking to God, asking, thanking or praising. In the Torah the word is rare, but the idea of calling on God is central, and later Jewish tradition gives prayer a fixed form.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis taught that prayer took the place of the Temple offerings, with set services morning, afternoon and evening. Many say the patriarchs began these three times of prayer.

### Examples

- A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. (Prophets HAB.3.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prayer/#x1)
- Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. (Writings PSA.61.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prayer/#x2)
- The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. (Writings PSA.72.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prayer/#x3)

### Note

Countable: a prayer, prayers; also uncountable for the activity: «in prayer». Pronounced like «prair», one syllable. The verb is «pray» — do not confuse with «prey» (an animal hunted by another), which sounds the same.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «prayer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prayer/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«prayer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/prayer.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «prayer» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prayer/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«prayer» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/prayer.html) on Mova free.