Pray vs Preach - What's the difference?

In obsolete terms the difference between pray and preach

is that pray is to ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for while preach is a religious discourse.

As verbs the difference between pray and preach

is that pray is to petition or solicit help from a supernatural or higher being while preach is to give a sermon.

As an adverb pray

is please; used to make a polite request.

As a noun preach is

a religious discourse.

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?

preach
English

Verb

To give a sermon.

* , chapter=3
, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.” He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable.}}
A local Muslim used to preach from the Quran and hadith.

To proclaim by public discourse; to utter in a sermon or a formal religious harangue.

* Bible, Isa. lxi. 1

The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek.

To advise or recommend earnestly.

* Shakespeare

My master preaches patience to him.

To teach or instruct by preaching; to inform by preaching.

* Southey

As ye are preached .

See also
* praught
Related terms
* practice what one preaches * preach to the choir * preach to the converted
Noun
(es)
(obsolete) A religious discourse.

(Hooker)