What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Pray vs Cray - What's the difference?

pray | cray |

As a verb 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.

As a noun cray is

a crayfish or lobster.

As an adjective cray is

(slang) crazy.

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?

    cray

    English

    Etymology 1

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A crayfish or lobster.

    • Etymology 2

    From crazy by shortening.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (slang) Crazy.
  • * 2010 , Cory Giger, " NFL commish slaps Steelers in face with weak punishment of Seymour", The Altoona Mirror (Altoona, Pennsylvania), 23 November 2010:
    • That small of a fine for that kind of blatant disregard is cray .
  • * 2012 , " Sharm x Savoy + Kiss = Happy RWD", Fazer , Issue 127, September 2012, page 80:
    • Before his set, RWD somehow found time to back a quick vodka shot in the Ice Bar downstairs - yes we're aware an ice bar in the desert is cray .
  • * 2013 , Dani Kellner, " 20 Things Your Ten Year Old Self Could Do at Cornell", Slope , Spring 2013, page 18:
    • Also, make sure you look both ways first, because the traffic is cray .
  • *
    • Synonyms
    * See also . English clippings

    Anagrams

    *