Emily Dickinson Lexicon

pray (-ed, -ing), v. [ME preien < OFr preier < late L. precārī, entreat, pray.] (webplay: ask, bed, blessed, Christ's, door, Father, forgiven, God, granted, heart, judgment, know, mercy, openly, perfections, petition, reasons, received, seeth, shut, solemnity, sounds, speak, supplicate, tell, throw, time, words, worship).

1. Worship; supplicate; petition God; address the Creator; communicate with Deity; kneel in humble entreaty to a Supreme Being; fulfill religious duty by reciting a devotional text.
2. Ask; request; urge; entreat; beg; importune; plead; hope; wish; desire; want.
3. Please; [elliptically] if you please; I ask you; I implore you.