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Cry vs Pray - What's the difference?

cry | pray |

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between cry and pray

is that cry is (obsolete) common report; gossip while pray is (obsolete) to ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.

As verbs the difference between cry and pray

is that cry is to shed tears; to weep while pray is to petition or solicit help from a supernatural or higher being.

As a noun cry

is a shedding of tears; the act of crying.

As an adverb pray is

please; used to make a polite request.

cry

English

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To shed tears; to weep.
  • That sad movie always makes me cry .
  • To utter loudly; to call out; to declare publicly.
  • * Shakespeare
  • All, all, cry shame against ye, yet I'll speak.
  • * Bunyan
  • The man ran on, crying , Life! life! Eternal life!
  • (ambitransitive) To shout, scream, yell.
  • * Bible, Matthew xxvii. 46
  • And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice.
  • To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals do.
  • * Bible, Psalms cxlvii. 9
  • the young ravens which cry
  • * Shakespeare
  • In a cowslip's bell I lie / There I couch when owls do cry .
  • To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping.
  • to cry oneself to sleep
  • To make oral and public proclamation of; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, etc.
  • to cry goods
  • * Crashaw
  • Love is lost, and thus she cries him.
  • Hence, to publish the banns of, as for marriage.
  • * Judd
  • I should not be surprised if they were cried in church next Sabbath.

    Synonyms

    * weep * See also * See also

    Antonyms

    * laugh

    Derived terms

    * crybaby * cry in one's beer * cry like a baby * cry one's eyes out * cry off * cry out * cry someone a river * cry the blues * cry wolf * don't cry over spilt milk * kiss and cry

    Noun

    (cries)
  • A shedding of tears; the act of crying.
  • After we broke up, I retreated to my room for a good cry .
  • A shout or scream.
  • I heard a cry from afar.
  • Words shouted or screamed.
  • a battle cry
  • (collectively) A group of hounds.
  • * Shakespeare
  • A cry more tunable / Was never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn.
    (Milton)
  • (obsolete, derogatory) A pack or company of people.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Would not this get me a fellowship in a cry of players?
  • (ambitransitive, of an animal) A typical sound made by the species in question.
  • "Woof" is the cry of a dog, while "neigh" is the cry of a horse.
  • A desperate or urgent request.
  • (obsolete) Common report; gossip.
  • * Shakespeare
  • The cry goes that you shall marry her.

    Derived terms

    * battle cry * hue and cry * war cry

    See also

    * breastfeeding * crocodile tears

    References

    * * *

    Statistics

    *

    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?