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Chant vs Pray - What's the difference?

chant | pray |

As verbs the difference between chant and pray

is that chant is to sing, especially without instruments, and as applied to monophonic and pre-modern music while pray is to petition or solicit help from a supernatural or higher being.

As a noun chant

is type of singing done generally without instruments and harmony.

As an adverb pray is

please; used to make a polite request.

chant

English

Alternative forms

* (archaic) chaunt

Verb

(en verb)
  • To sing, especially without instruments, and as applied to monophonic and pre-modern music.
  • * Spenser
    • The cheerful birds do chant sweet music.
  • To sing or intone sacred text.

    • Noun

    (wikipedia chant) (en noun)
  • Type of singing done generally without instruments and harmony.
  • (music) A short and simple melody, divided into two parts by double bars, to which unmetrical psalms, etc., are sung or recited. It is the most ancient form of choral music.
  • Twang; manner of speaking; a canting tone.
  • * Macaulay
    • His strange face, his strange chant .
  • A repetitive song, typically an incantation or part of a ritual.

    • Related terms

    * enchant * Gregorian chant * incantation

    Anagrams

    * ----

    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?