prawn 
is marketed in vast numbers. Among the species known 
M prawns in the United States, and available for food, are 
Prawn ( Palumcn terrains}. 
Palsemanetei mtlgaris, Palimma interrupttu (the Califor- 
nian sea crawHsh), and the shrimp (Peneu braxilitnni) ut 
the southern United States. /Esop's prawn is a member 
of the genus Hippolyte. 
Praxean (prak'se-an), . [< Praxeas (see def.) 
+ -.] A follower of Praxeas, a Patripassian 
leader belonging to the close of the second and 
the beginning of the third century. 8ee Mo- 
narchian and Patripassian. 
Praxeanist (prak'xe-an-ist), n. [< Protean + 
-is<.] Same as Praisean, 
praxinoscope (prak'si-no-skop), n. [Irreg. < 
Gr. itpaftf, a doing, + muoireiv, view.] An instru- 
ment allied to the phenakistoscope and zoe- 
trope, and giving like effects. Pictures represent- 
ing a cycle of positions of a moving object, as a running 
horse or a dancer, are arranged In due order on the Inside 
surfaces of a polygonal box in the center of which Is also 
placed a polygonal prism having one side facing each pic- 
ture in the cycle. On each face of the prism is affixed a 
flat mirror. The box with its contained pictures and mir- 
rors is rotated horizontally. The eye, fixed upon the 
central arrangement of mirrors, then sees the object ap- 
parently performing its natural movements. 
praxis (prak'sis), . [< NL. jn-tucix, < Gr. 
irpaj-if, a doing, action, practice, condition, < 
irpdaaiw,ma,ki', do: seeyiraetfe.] 1. Use; prac- 
tice ; especially, practice or discipline for a 
specific purpose, as the acquisition of a spe- 
cific art. 
An impious treatise of the element! ami praxii of necro- 
mancy. Coventry, Philemon to Hydaspes, iii. 
There are few sciences more Intrinsically valuable than 
mathematics. . . . They are the noblest praxu of logick 
or universal reasoning. J. Harru, Hermes, Pref! 
2. An example or a collection of examples for 
practice; a representative specimen; a model. 
A praxis or example of grammatical resolution. 
Bp. Loifth, Introd. to Eng. ( Irani, (ed. 1763), p. 185. 
The pleadings of the Ancients were praxuet of the art 
of oratorical persuasion. Qilliet, tr. of Aristotle, II. 348. 
3. [cap.] [NL.] Insool.: () A genus of lepi- 
dopterous insects of the family Noctuidx, erect- 
ed for two handsome Australian species. Gue- 
)if'e,1852. (6) Ageiiusofmollusks. .l<famx,1858. 
Praxitelean(praks-it-e-le'an), a. [< L. I'raxi- 
teles, < Gr. ll/if/ra, Praxiteles (see def.), + 
-ea.] Of or pertaining to Praxiteles, of the 
fourth century B. c., one of the greatest of an- 
cient Greek sculptors ; executed by or charac- 
teristic of Praxiteles or his school. The art of 
Praxiteles was more luxurious than that of his predeces- 
sors; his types were sympathetic, abounding in pathos, 
and his expression of sentiment and character very subtly 
rendered. An original work by him has been recovered 
in the Hermes and infant Dionysus at Olympia (see cut un- 
der Greek). See also cut under Aphrodite. 
pray 1 (pra), v. [< ME. prayen, preyen,prcicn, 
< OF. prefer, praier,proicr,precr,prier, F.prier 
= Pr. preyar, pregar = It. pregare, pray, < L. 
precari, ML. also precare, ask, beg, entreat, be- 
seech, pray, supplicate; of. prex (prec-), usu- 
ally in pi. prccen, a prayer, procure, ask, de- 
mand, procus, a wooer ; cf. Skt. -^ prachh, ask : 
see /raini, and cf. postulate. Hence ult. (from 
L. precari) E. prayer*, precarious, precatire, dep- 
recate, imprecate, etc.] I. intrans. 1. To ask 
earnestly; beg; entreat; supplicate, as for a 
personal grace or favor. 
The guilty rebel for remission pray*. 
Shot., Lucrece, 1. 714. 
Had you cried, or knelt, nrpray'd to me, 
I should not less have kill'd him. 
Temtyton, Oeralnt 
2. In religious usage, to make devout petition 
to God, or (in some forms of religion) to any 
object of worship, as a saint or an angel; more 
generally, to enter into spiritual communion 
with God. usually through the medium of 
speech, see prayer^. 
It was moche more comforte and gladnesse to vs to have 
suche wether as we hadde longe desyred and prayde for. 
Sir Jt. Guyffurde, Pylgrymage, p. 74. 
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. Mat, vi. 0. 
4671 
We do pray for mercy ; 
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render 
The deeds of mercy. Shot., M. of V., Iv. 1. 200. 
Pray tor my soul. More things are wrought by prayer 
Than this world dreams of. Tennyton. Siorte d r Arthur. 
I pray, usually, by ellipsis, pray, a common formula In- 
troducing a question, Invitation, suggestion, or request 
Compare prithee. 
My father 
Is hard at study ; pray now, rest yourself. 
Shot., Tempest, 111. 1. 20. 
Pray, leave these frumps, sir, and receive this letter. 
Ueau. and ft., Scornful Lady, v. 1. 
II. trans. 1. To ask earnestly; beg; entreat; 
supplicate; urge. 
Paclence apposed hym fyrsta and preyed hym he sholde 
hem Ml.- 
To Conscience, what crafte he couthe an to what countree 
he wolde. Piert Plowman (BX xill. 22*. 
Call to remembrance (I prai thee) the vaine youthfull 
fantasle and ouertlmelle death of fathers and thy breth- 
ren - UotinOted, Hist Eng., an. 546. 
We pray you In Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 
2 Cor. v. 20. 
You are passing welcome, 
And so I pray you all to think yourselves. 
Shak., T. of the s., i I. 1. 114. 
She pray'd me not to Judge their cause from her 
That wrong'd It. Trnnytun, Princess, vll. 
2. In religious usage, to address a desire or 
petition to (specifically to God) devoutly and 
with reverence. 
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you an- 
other Comforter. John xlv. 16. 
.,?*",??, There is hope 
All will be well. 
Anne. Now, I pray God, amen ! 
Shak., Hen. VIII., II. 8. 56. 
She was ever prayiny the sweet heavens 
To save her dear lord whole from any wound. 
Tennyton, Geralnt. 
3. To offer up, as a prayer; utter in devotion 
I haue had no time to pray my houres, much lesse to 
aunswere your leters mlsslue. 
Guevara, Letters (tr. by Hellowes, 1577), p. 12e. 
I'll pray a thousand prayers for thy death, 
No word to save thee. Shale., M. for M., III. 1. 148. 
4. To make entreaty or petition for; crave; 
implore: as, the plaintiff prays judgment of 
the court. 
I know not how to pray your patience. 
SAa*., Much Ado, v. 1. 20. 
He that will have the benefit of this act must pray a pro- 
hibition before a sentence in the ecclesiastical coiirt. 
Ayli/e, I'arergon. 
An address was presented to the king, proving that Im- 
pey might be summoned home to answer for his misdeeds. 
Macaulay, Warren Hastings. 
5. To effect, move, or bring by prayer or en- 
treaty: followed by an adverb or a preposition 
particularizing the meaning. 
I pray you home to dinner with me. 
Shale., M. for M., II. I. 292. 
Occlduus is a pastor of renown ; 
When he has pray'd and preach'd the Sabbath down. 
With wire and catgut he concludes the day. 
Cowper, Progress of Error, 1. 125. 
Praying souls out of purgatory, by masses said on their 
behalf, became an ordinary office. 
HUman, Latin Christianity, xlv. 2. 
To pray in aid, in fair, to call In, as aid, one who has an 
interest In the cause (see aid-prayer) ; hence, to become 
an advocate for. 
Yon shall find 
A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness, 
Where he for grace Is kneel'd to. 
Shalt., A. and C., v. 2. 27. 
Without praying in aid of alchymisU, there Is a mani- 
fest image of this In the ordinary course of nature. 
Bacon, Friendship (ed. 1887). 
= Syn. 1. To crave, implore, beseech, petition, importune 
Seeprayerl. 
pray'-'t, . and r. An obsolete spelling otprey?. 
pray 8 (pra), r. i. A dialectal form of pry. 
praya 1 (pri'ii), n. [< Pg. nraia, shore, beach, 
bank.] In some cities of India, an embanked 
road; a public walk or drive on a river-bank 
or water-front ; a bund. 
A more practical scheme is the proposed building of 
the whole river front of the citjr, the reclamation of a 
considerable amount of frontage, and the construction of 
a broad praya suitable for wheeled conveyances, and 
lighted by electricity. The Engineer, LXIX 65. 
Praya- (pra'a), n. [NL.] The typical genus 
of 1'rayidee. 
prayantt (pra'ant), a. [< OF. prriunt, ppr. of 
pi-cicr, pray: MejWWfl.J Being in the mood 
or attitude of prayer. 
Fanatick Errour and Levity would seem an Euchite as 
well as an Eristick. Prayatil as well as predicant 
Bp. Gauden, Tears of the Church, p. 93. 
prayellt, . [< OF. prayel, prael, prntel, < ML. 
pratelliim, < L. pnitiiliini, dim. otpratimi, a mea- 
dow. Cf. prayere, prairie.'] A little meadow. 
prayer 
prayer 1 iprar), . [< ME. prayer, prayere, 
praer, prrycr, preyrr, pn-i/i r, , pnii-n; < OF. 
pi-fifi-i-. preere, proiere, priere, F. priere = It. 
prcgaria, < ML.'pmwria, a supplication, pray- 
er, prop. fern, of L. precariiui, obtained by < ii- 
treaty or favor, hence depending on favor, 
doubtful, transient, < preeari, entreat, suppli- 
cate: see prnyl, and cf. precarious.'] 1. The 
act of beseeching, entreating, or supplicating ; 
supplication; entreaty; petition; suit. 
That ys to seye sothlichc xe aholde rather deye 
Than eny dedllche synne do for drede other for preyere. 
Piert Plomnan(C\ vlll. 210. 
He sought to have that by practice which he could not 
by prayer. Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, II. 
Thy threats hare no more strength than her weak prayen. 
Shak., M. N. D., [if 2. 450. 
2. In religious usage, a devout petition to an 
object of worship, as God, or a saint or an augel ; 
an orison : confined in Protestant usage to such 
petitions addressed to God; more generally, 
any spiritual communion with God, including 
confession, petition, adoration, praise, and 
thanksgiving. See ilulia. 
When thou comes to tho chlrche dore, 
Take the lialy water stondand on flore ; 
Rede or synge or byd prayeris 
To crist, for alle thy crysten ferys. 
Babeet Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 304. 
Wliat Is prayer but an ascent of the mind towards God ? 
Bp, Atterbury, Sermons, II. xx. 
Prayer Is the soul's sincere desire, 
I'ttered or unexpressed. 
J. Montgomery, Hymn. 
Thrice blest whose lives are faithful prayen. 
Tennyton, In Memorlani, xxxll. 
3. The practice of praying, or of communing 
with God. 
He is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer. 
Shot., 3 Hen. VI., II. 1. 158. 
It hath been well said ut prayer, that prayer will either 
make a man leave off sinning, or sin will make him leave 
off prayer. I'aley, Sermons, i. 
So keep I fair thro' faith and prayer 
A virgin heart in work and will. 
Tennyfon, Sir Galahad. 
4. The form of words used in praying; a for- 
mula of worship : as, the Lord's I'rayer. 
He ... made those two excellent prayen, which were 
published after his death. Bp. Felt, Hammond, p. 212. 
Not a bell was rung, not a prayer was rend. 
Tennyxm, Maud, xxvii. 
5. A form of religious service ; a religious ob- 
servance, either public or private, consisting 
mainly of prayer to God; a liturgy: often in 
the plural : as, the service of morning prayer; 
family prayers. 
She went from opera, park, assembly, play, 
To morning walks, and prayerg three hours a-day. 
Pope, To Ulss Blount, H. 
Prayfn and calling-over seemed twice as short as usual. 
T. Hughet, Tom Brown at Itugby, I. 8. 
6. That part of a memorial or petition to a 
public body, or of a bill of complaint in equity, 
which specifies the thing desired to be done or 
granted, as distinct from the recital of facts or 
reasons for the grant.- Apostlmhlp of prayer. See 
ap<Me*hip.~ Book of Common Prayer, the book con- 
tuning the appointed forms for public worship and for 
the words and acts used In the rites and ceremonies of thu 
( 'hurch of England, or a similar liook authorized by one of 
the other branches of the Anglican Church : briefly and 
popularly known as the Prayer-boolr. After the publica- 
tion In English of the Litany in 1544, and of the parts of the 
communion office relating to the communion of the people 
In 1548, the First Book of Common Prayer was Issued In 
1549, the second year of Edward VI. Almost the whole 
book is taken from the medieval liturgical books espe- 
cially the missal, portiforlum (breviary), and manual ac- 
cording to the Use of Swum (see tue\ but with omissions, 
condensations, and the addition of a number of addresses 
to the people. English was substituted for Latin all the 
offices were united in one book, and a uniform use was es 
tablished for the whole Church of England. Successive re- 
visions were made in 1552, 1559, and 1882. The greatest 
changes were those introduced in the Second Prayer-book 
of Edward VI. (1552X especially In the communion office 
(seeonninunum)and at continuation and buriaL This book 
never came into actual use, but was in the main followed 
In the revision under Elizabeth In 1559 and in the present 
English lxx>k as Issued in 1662, after the restoration of 
I'hnrlcs II., but with material modifications, especially In 
1662, returning toward the standard of 1549. The Prayer- 
book authorized in 1637 for use In Scotland, and differing 
from the English liook mainly in the communion office 
met with serious opposition at the time, but came Into 
use afterward in the Scotch Episcopal church. The Amer- 
ican Prayer-book, authorized in 1789. differs from the 
r.nglish mainly in the omission of the Athanasian < n l 
and of the form of private absolution in the visitation uf 
the sick, the restoration of the great oblation and Invoca- 
tion to their primitive places in theprayer of consecration 
(see contecratirm), and the later addition of the offices of 
consecration of churches and institution of ministers. 
Ill 1886 a new revision took place, resulting chiefly in a 
return to the English book In several points, and this 
revision Is still (18o) in progress. The Psalter, Ordinal 
and Thirty-nine Articles are always bound with the l:..k 
of Common I'rayer, and usually considered parts of It 
