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Beseeched vs Pray - What's the difference?

beseeched | pray |

As verbs the difference between beseeched and pray

is that beseeched is past tense of beseech while pray is to petition or solicit help from a supernatural or higher being.

As an adverb pray is

please; used to make a polite request.

beseeched

English

Verb

(head)
  • (beseech)

    • beseech

    English

    Alternative forms

    *

    Verb

  • To beg or implore.
  • * 1748 , David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral , London, Oxford University Press, 1973, § 25:
    • after what manner, I beseech you, must the mind proceed in this operation?
  • * 1888 , Rudyard Kipling, ‘Watches of the Night’, Plain Tales from the Hills , Folio 2005, p. 61:
    • She besought him, for his Soul's sake to speak the truth.
  • * 1919 ,
    • Panting a little in his haste, he told her how miserable he was; he besought her to have mercy on him; he promised, if she would forgive him, to do everything she wanted.

    Related terms

    * seek

    Noun

    (beseeches)
  • (archaic) A request.
  • * 1839 , Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, George Darley, The works of Beaumont and Fletcher: Volume 1 :
    • Good madam, hear the suit that Edith urges, With such submiss beseeches ; [...]

    Anagrams

    * English irregular verbs

    pray

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To petition or solicit help from a supernatural or higher being.
    • Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca.
  • To humbly beg a person for aid or their time.
  • (religion) to communicate with God for any reason.
  • (obsolete) To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I know not how to pray your patience.

    Derived terms

    * prayer * pray in aid

    Adverb

    (-)
  • please; used to make a polite request.
    • pray silence for…
  • * 1816 , (Jane Austen), , Volume 1 Chapter 8
    • "Pray , Mr. Knightley," said Emma, who had been smiling to herself through a great part of this speech, "how do you know that Mr. Martin did not speak yesterday?"
  • * Charles Dickens, , 1841:
    • Pray''' don’t ask me why, '''pray''' don’t be sorry, '''pray don’t be vexed with me!
  • * Frederick Marryat, , 1845:
    • Well, Major, pray tell us your adventures, for you have frightened us dreadfully.
  • * 1892 , (Arthur Conan Doyle),
    • Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue your most interesting statement.
  • * 2013 , Martina Hyde, Is the pope Catholic?'' (in ''The Guardian , 20 September 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/20/is-pope-catholic-atheists-gay-people-abortion]
    • He is a South American, so perhaps revolutionary spirit courses through Francis's veins. But what, pray , does the Catholic church want with doubt?