Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Praying \Pray"ing\,
   a. & n. from {Pray}, v.

   {Praying insect}, {locust}, or mantis (Zo["o]l.), 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 of all the prayers on
      the wheel. Sometimes it is moved by a stream.

Pray \Pray\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Prayed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Praying}.] [OE. preien, OF. preier, F. prier, L. precari,
   fr. prex, precis, a prayer, a request; akin to Skr. prach to
   ask, AS. frignan, fr[=i]nan, fricgan, G. fragen, Goth.
   fra['i]hnan. Cf. {Deprecate}, {Imprecate}, {Precarious}.]
   To make request with 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 into thy closet, and when thou
         hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in
         secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall
         reward thee openly.                      --Matt. vi. 6.

   {I pray}, or (by ellipsis) {Pray}, I beg; I request; I
      entreat you; -- used in asking a question, making a
      request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me
      to go.

            I pray, sir. why am I beaten?         --Shak.

   Syn: To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech;
        petition.