(a) To ask earnestly, make a plea or request; ask (sb.), entreat, plead with; ~ unto; the preiinge, while you are entreating; (b) to ask for (sth.), ask for (sth. from sb.); request, beg for; ~ of, ask (sb. for sth.); ~ merci, plead (with a woman) for her love; ~ love, plead for love; for no preiere that he preied her, despite all his entreaties to her.

(a) To ask (that sb. do sth., that one be allowed to do sth.); ask (to know sth., to be allowed to do sth., etc.); --also with request in direct discourse; theire elde preieth, their age demands (that they be given alms); (b) to ask (sb. that he do sth., that sth. be done, that one be allowed to do sth.); -- also with request in impv. or direct discourse; (c) to ask (sb. to do sth., to serve in some capacity); -- also with subject of inf. omitted.

In phrases: (a) ~ of love, to plead with (a woman) for her love; ~ of vileini, ask (sb.) to do a vile deed; ~ of wittes, ?ask (sb.) to use his knowledge or intelligence; ~ of pes (conseil, grace, etc.), ask (sb.) for peace (advice, grace, etc.); ~ for, ask for (sth.), ask for (sth.) back; ~ after pouer to, ask (sb.) for power; (b) ~ for, to entreat on behalf of (sb.), entreat (sb.) on behalf of (sb.); beg for mercy toward (sb.).

(a) To invite (sb. to a feast, dinner, wedding, etc.); invite (sb. to one's house, to dine with one, etc.); (b) to summon (sb.); (c) ~ to (of) love, of a bird or an animal: to summon (another bird, animal) to mating.

(a) To make petition to a deity, saint, etc.; say a prayer; ~ not, ?pray for deliverance from something; (b) to pray to (a deity, saint, etc.), make petition to, supplicate; able to be preied, accessible to prayer; (c) ~ to (unto, til), to pray to (a deity, etc.); (d) to recite (a prayer); ~ a pater noster (ave, etc.), say the Lord's Prayer (an Ave Maria, etc.); ~ bedes, ?recite (one's) prayers, ?say the rosary; ~ placebo and dirige (our own ordinaunce), recite the Office of the Dead (our own devotions); it is preied, a prayer is said; (e) to pray for (sth.), pray to (a deity) for or about (sth.); ~ ivel (ivel happes) to, pray for evil (bad luck) to befall (sb.).

(a) To pray (that sth. may happen, that sb. may do sth., that God may do sth., to have sth., etc.); -- also with petition in direct discourse; (b) to pray (to a deity or saint that he do sth., that sth. may happen, to be allowed to do sth., etc.), entreat (a deity or saint to do sth.).

With prep. phrases: (a) ~ for (after), to pray for (sth.), pray (a deity, to a deity) for (sth.); ~ of, pray (God) for (sth.); ~ for sinne(s, ~ for feith, intercede by prayer with regard to sins (faith); ~ ayen ivel, pray (to God) that evil may not occur; (b) ~ for, to pray on behalf of (sb., someone's life or soul, etc.), intercede for; pray (a deity, to a deity) on behalf of (sb., someone's soul); (c) ~ ayen(es, ~ yen, to pray against (oneself), pray to the damnation of (one's soul, oneself).

In asseverations: i ~ to god, i ~ god, etc., I pray God, etc.

In parenthetical phrases expressing deference, earnestness, etc.: i preie, i preie the (you), i the (you) preie, i wolde the ~, i wolde ~ you, preie and biseche you; preiehem, he prayed them.

In legal formulas: al communes ~, ~ the communes, expressing deference in a petition or enactment; ~ (to) god for you, etc., in the formal conclusion of a petition.

In proverbs.

(a) Ppl. as adj.: preiing, entreating, beseeching; obtained by entreaty; prei [read: preiing] men [mistransl. of L orantibus praying men], men who pray; preied, prayed for, obtained by entreaty; (b) ppl. as noun: preiand, one who prays, a suppliant.