prayer
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++prayer /preə $ prer/ ●●● S3 W3 noun 1 [countable]RRPRAY words that you say when praying to God or gods 祈祷文，祷辞 Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. 在这艰难时期我们时刻思念你，为你祈祷。 The children said their prayers and got into bed. 孩子们做完祷告后上床睡觉了。 God has answered your prayer. 上帝应许了你的祷告。prayer for a prayer for the dead 为死者的祈祷 → Lord's Prayer2 [uncountable]RRPRAY when someone prays, or the regular habit of praying 祈祷（的习惯） the power of prayer 祈祷的力量 a prayer meeting 祈祷会in prayer The congregation knelt in prayer. 会众跪下祈祷。3 [countable]WANTHOPE a wish or hope that something will happen 愿望，希望 Her prayer was that she would pass her exams. 她的愿望是自己能通过考试。4 prayers [plural]PRAY a regular religious meeting in a church, school etc, at which people pray together 〔教堂、学校等的〕祷告会，祈祷式 Prayers are at eight o'clock. 祈祷式8点钟举行。5 not have a prayer (of doing something) informalCHANCE/OPPORTUNITY to have no chance of succeeding （做某事）没有成功的可能 He tried hard, but he didn’t have a prayer. 他拼命努力了 不过不可能成功。 They don’t have a prayer of winning. 他们不可能赢。6 an/the answer to somebody’s prayers informal something that someone wants or needs very much 某人渴求的东西 The job was an answer to my prayers. 这份工作是我梦寐以求的。 → on a wing and a prayer at wing1(10)n COLLOCATIONSverbssay a prayerSay a prayer for me.utter a prayer formal (=say a prayer)When she recovered, she uttered a prayer of thanks.offer a prayer (=say a prayer in a formal way, often in a group)Special prayers were offered for the boys during a service yesterday.hear somebody's prayerGod must have heard my prayers.answer somebody's prayer (=respond to a prayer, especially by giving you what you ask for)One day my prayers were answered.be in somebody's prayers (=be prayed for)You are always in my prayers.adjectivesa silent prayerHe said a silent prayer as he walked.prayer + NOUNa prayer book (=book containing prayers)a prayer mat/rug (=small cloth on which Muslims kneel to pray)a prayer meeting (=meeting at which people pray together)a prayer service (=church service at which people pray)
Examples from the Corpus
prayer• She knelt to say a prayer of profound thankfulness.• a prayer meeting• Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hinson family.• This is a besieged, privileged and panicked minority at prayer.• His constant prayer was for an end to the war.• In this paper we have stayed close to the pattern presented in the tradition and in official contemporary prayers.• The synagogue is used for prayer and study.• Their heads were bowed in prayer.• From within the house came the mutterings of prayers, accompanied by the tinkling of gamelan instruments.• The monks here believe strongly in the power of prayer and meditation.• We always used to say our prayers before going to bed.• Our prayers for peace have been answered.• Some of the prayers are sobs and groans.• This prayer has no special introduction or conclusion.• There is an old saying: Be careful what you pray for, lest your prayers be answered.prayer for• a prayer for the poorin prayer• The congregation knelt in prayer.Origin prayer (1200-1300) Old French preiere, from Latin precaria, from prex; → PRAY1prayer noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChinese
Corpus say praying words God when you to that
prayer
prayer S3 W3 /preə $ prer/
noun1. [countable] words that you say when praying to God or gods:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
The children said their prayers and got into bed.
God has answered your prayer.
prayer for
a prayer for the dead ⇨ LORD’S PRAYER
2. [uncountable] when someone prays, or the regular habit of praying:
the power of prayer
a prayer meeting
in prayer
The congregation knelt in prayer.
3. [countable] a wish or hope that something will happen:
Her prayer was that she would pass her exams.
4. prayers [plural] a regular religious meeting in a church, school etc, at which people pray together:
Prayers are at eight o'clock.
5. not have a prayer (of doing something) informal to have no chance of succeeding:
He tried hard, but he didn’t have a prayer.
They don’t have a prayer of winning.
6. an/the answer to sb’s prayers informal something that someone wants or needs very much:
The job was an answer to my prayers.
⇨ on a wing and a prayer at wing1(10)
■ verbs
▪say a prayer Say a prayer for me.
▪utter a prayer formal (=say a prayer) When she recovered, she uttered a prayer of thanks.
▪offer a prayer (=say a prayer in a formal way, often in a group) Special prayers were offered for the boys during a service yesterday.
▪hear somebody's prayer God must have heard my prayers.
▪answer somebody's prayer (=respond to a prayer, especially by giving you what you ask for) One day my prayers were answered.
▪be in somebody's prayers (=be prayed for) You are always in my prayers.
■ adjectives
▪a silent prayer He said a silent prayer as he walked.
■ prayer + NOUN
▪a prayer book (=book containing prayers)
▪a prayer mat/rug (=small cloth on which Muslims kneel to pray)
▪a prayer meeting (=meeting at which people pray together)
▪a prayer service (=church service at which people pray)
prayer S3 W3 /preə $ prer/
noun1. [countable] words that you say when praying to God or gods: prayer for
2. [uncountable] when someone prays, or the regular habit of praying:
in prayer
3. [countable] a wish or hope that something will happen:
4. prayers [plural] a regular religious meeting in a church, school etc, at which people pray together:
5. not have a prayer (of doing something) informal to have no chance of succeeding:
6. an/the answer to sb’s prayers informal something that someone wants or needs very much:
⇨ on a wing and a prayer at wing1(10)
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Being religious 笃信宗教的
believe in God/Christ/Allah/free will/predestination/heaven and hell/an afterlife/reincarnation信仰上帝／耶稣基督／真主／自由意志／宿命论／天堂与地狱／来生／转世说 be/become a believer/an atheist/an agnostic/a Christian/Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist, etc.是／成为信徒／无神论者／不可知论者／基督徒／穆斯林／印度教教徒／佛教徒等 convert to/practise/ ( especially
practice a religion/Buddhism/Catholicism/Christianity/Islam/Judaism, etc.皈依／信奉宗教／佛教／天主教／基督教／伊斯兰教／犹太教等 go to church/( templeNAmE (= the synagogue )去教堂／会堂做礼拜 go to the local church/mosque/synagogue/gurdwara去当地的教堂／清真寺／犹太教会堂／谒师所做礼拜 belong to a church/a religious community是教堂／宗教团体的成员 join/enter the church/a convent/a monastery/a religious sect/the clergy/the priesthood成为牧师／女修道士／僧侣／宗教人员／神职人员／司祭 praise/worship/obey/serve/glorify God赞美／敬拜／遵从／侍奉／颂扬上帝
Celebrations and ritual 庆典与仪式
attend/hold/conduct/lead a service参加／举行／组织／主持礼拜仪式 perform a ceremony/a rite/a ritual/a baptism/the Hajj/a mitzvah举行典礼／仪式／宗教仪式／洗礼／朝觐／受戒仪式 carry out/perform a sacred/burial/funeral/fertility/purification rite举行宗教／安葬／葬礼／丰收／净化仪式 go on/make a pilgrimage前往朝圣 celebrate Christmas/Easter/Eid/Ramadan/Hanukkah/Passover/Diwali庆祝圣诞节／复活节／开斋节／斋月／修殿节／逾越节／排灯节 observe/break the Sabbath/a fast/Ramadan守／不守安息日／斋戒／斋月 deliver/preach/hear a sermon传道；讲道；听布道 lead/address the congregation带领会众；对会众发表演讲 say/recite a prayer/blessing念诵／背诵经文；祝祷
Religious texts and ideas 宗教经文与思想
preach/proclaim/spread the word of God/the Gospel/the message of Islam传布／颂扬／传播上帝的话／《福音》／伊斯兰教义 study/follow the dharma/the teachings of Buddha研究／遵循达摩／佛教教义 read/study/understand/interpret scripture/the Bible/the Koran/the gospel/the Torah阅读／研究／理解／阐释经文／《圣经》／《古兰经》／《福音》／托拉 be based on/derive from divine revelation基于／来源于上帝的启示 commit/consider sth heresy/sacrilege犯异端／渎圣罪；认为…是异端邪说／亵渎圣物
Religious belief and experience 宗教信仰与体验
seek/find/gain enlightenment/wisdom寻求／找到／获得启迪／智慧 strengthen/lose your faith增强／失去信德 keep/practise/practice/abandon the faith忠于／践行／放弃信仰 save/purify/lose your soul拯救／净化／失去灵魂 obey/follow/keep/break/violate a commandment/Islamic law/Jewish law服从／遵循／恪守／违反／亵渎诫条／伊斯兰教法／犹太教法 be/accept/do God's will是／接受／践行上帝的旨意 receive/experience divine grace得到／感受神的恩宠 achieve/attain enlightenment/salvation/nirvana获得启迪／拯救／涅槃 undergo a conversion/rebirth/reincarnation经历皈依／重生／转世化身 hear/answer a prayer聆听／回应祷告 commit/confess/forgive a sin犯罪；忏悔；宽恕罪过 do/perform penance进行补赎
