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Pray vs Repent - What's the difference?

pray | repent |

As verbs the difference between pray and repent

is that pray is to petition or solicit help from a supernatural or higher being while repent is (label) to feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do; the cause for repenting may be indicated with "of".

As an adverb pray

is please; used to make a polite request.

As an adjective repent is

(chiefly|botany) creeping along the ground.

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?

    repent

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) repentir, from (re-) + a late derivative of (etyl) , alteration of (etyl) paenitere.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (label) To feel pain, sorrow, or regret for what one has done or omitted to do; the cause for repenting may be indicated with "of".
  • *
  • *:And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
  • To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to practice sin and to love.
  • :
  • *
  • *:I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish.
  • (label) To feel pain on account of; to remember with sorrow.
  • (label) To be sorry for, to regret.
  • :
  • To cause to have sorrow or regret.
  • *, Bk.VII:
  • *:at that time she wolde nat, she seyde, for she was syke and myght nat ryde. "That me repentith ," seyde the kynge.
  • *
  • *:And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
  • To cause (oneself) to feel pain or regret.
  • Synonyms
    * (l) * (l)
    Derived terms
    *

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Adjective

  • (chiefly, botany) Creeping along the ground.
  • Synonyms
    * reptant

    References

    * * ----