Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
PRAYER
prayer, supplication
(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”
prayer
(noun) a fixed text used in praying
entreaty, prayer, appeal
(noun) earnest or urgent request; “an entreaty to stop the fighting”; “an appeal for help”; “an appeal to the public to keep calm”
prayer, petition, orison
(noun) reverent petition to a deity
prayer, supplicant
(noun) someone who prays to God
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Noun
prayer (countable and uncountable, plural prayers)
A practice of communicating with one's God.
The act of praying.
The specific words or methods used for praying.
A meeting held for the express purpose of praying.
A request; a petition.
(mostly in negative constructions) The remotest hope or chance.
Synonyms
• orison, precation
• bead (archaic)
Etymology 2
Noun
prayer (plural prayers)
One who prays.
Source: Wiktionary
Pray"er, n.
Definition: One who prays; a supplicant.
Prayer (, n. Etym: [OE. preiere, OF. preiere, F. prière, fr. L. precarius obtained by prayer, fr. precari to pray. See Pray, v. i.]
1. 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. "Their meek preyere." Chaucer
2. 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. As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer. Shak.
3. 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. He made those excellent prayers which were published immediately after his death. Bp. Fell. Prayer book, a book containing devotional prayers.
– Prayer meeting, a meeting or gathering for prayer to God.
Syn.
– Petition; orison; supplication; entreaty; suit.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
25 December 2024
UNAMBIGUOUS
(adjective) having or exhibiting a single clearly defined meaning; “As a horror, apartheid...is absolutely unambiguous”- Mario Vargas Llosa
Coffee Trivia
