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Pry vs Prize - What's the difference?

pry | prize |

As verbs the difference between pry and prize

is that pry is to look where one is not welcome; to be nosey while prize is to consider highly valuable; to esteem.

As nouns the difference between pry and prize

is that pry is the act of prying while prize is that which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power.

pry

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) pryen, . More at (l).

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To look where one is not welcome; to be nosey.
  • To look closely and curiously at.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Watch thou and wake when others be asleep, / To pry into the secrets of the state.

    Noun

  • The act of prying
  • An excessively inquisitive person

    • Etymology 2

    1800, ("lever"), construed as a plural noun or as a 3rd person singular verb.

    Noun

    (pries)
  • A lever.
  • Leverage.

    • Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To use leverage to open or widen. (See also prise and prize.)

    • prize

    English

    (wikipedia prize)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) prise, from (etyl) ; see prehend. Compare prison, apprise, comprise, enterprise, purprise, reprisal, suprise, etc.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power.
  • * Spenser
    • His own prize , / Whom formerly he had in battle won.
  • (military, nautical) Anything captured by a belligerent using the rights of war; especially, property captured at sea in virtue of the rights of war, as a vessel.
  • An honour or reward striven for in a competitive contest; anything offered to be competed for, or as an inducement to, or reward of, effort.
  • * Dryden
    • I fought and conquered, yet have lost the prize .
  • That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery.
  • Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect.
  • * Bible, Phil. iii. 14
    • I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
  • A contest for a reward; competition.
    • (Shakespeare)
  • A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever. Also spelled prise.
    • Derived terms
    * booby prize * consolation prize * door prize * prizewinner, prize winner * prize-winning * pushing prize
    Usage notes
    Do not confuse with .

    See also

    * prise * price

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) prysen, from (etyl) ; see price. Compare praise, appraise, apprize.

    Verb

    (priz)
  • To consider highly valuable; to esteem.
  • * Shakespeare
    • [I] do love, prize , honour you.
  • * Dryden
    • I prized your person, but your crown disdain.
  • (obsolete) To set or estimate the value of; to appraise; to price; to rate.
  • * Bible, Zech. xi. 13
    • A goodly price that I was prized at.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I prize it [life] not a straw, but for mine honour.
  • To move with a lever; to force up or open; to prise or pry.
  • (obsolete) To compete in a prizefight.

    • External links

    * * 1000 English basic words