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.
双语例句
1. The Colonel bowed his head and whispered a prayer of thanksgiving.
这位上校低头轻声做感恩祈祷。
来自柯林斯例句
2. She'd been caught from behind and hadn't a prayer of freeing herself.
有人从后面抓住她，她不可能脱身。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Uncle Richard intoned a chapter from the Bible and improvised a prayer.
理查德叔叔吟诵了《圣经》中的一章，又即兴作了一段祈祷文。
来自柯林斯例句
4. There is a ceremony of prayer and flagellation before the dancing begins.
舞蹈开始前会举行祈祷和鞭笞的仪式。
来自柯林斯例句
5. He saw his vocation as one of prayer and apostolic work.
