c. 1300, from Old French prier "prayer, petition, request" (12c., Modern French prière), from Medieval Latin precaria "petition, prayer," noun use of Latin adjective precaria, fem. of precarius "obtained by prayer, given as a favor," from precari "to ask, beg, pray" (see pray). Related: Prayers.
Prayer-book attested from 1590s; prayer-meeting from 1780. To not have a prayer "have no chance" is from 1941.
雙語例句
1. The Colonel bowed his head and whispered a prayer of thanksgiving.
這位上校低頭輕聲做感恩祈禱。
來自柯林斯例句
2. She'd been caught from behind and hadn't a prayer of freeing herself.
有人從后面抓住她，她不可能脫身。
來自柯林斯例句
3. Uncle Richard intoned a chapter from the Bible and improvised a prayer.
理查德叔叔吟誦了《圣經》中的一章，又即興作了一段祈禱文。
來自柯林斯例句
4. There is a ceremony of prayer and flagellation before the dancing begins.
舞蹈開始前會舉行祈禱和鞭笞的儀式。
來自柯林斯例句
5. He saw his vocation as one of prayer and apostolic work.