Praxis, praks′is, n. practice: an example or a collection of examples for exercise: a specimen.—n. Prax′inoscope, an optical instrument showing a body as if in motion, by means of successive pictures and an arrangement of mirrors in a horizontally rotating box. [Gr. praxein, to do.]
Pray, prā, v.i. to ask earnestly: to entreat: to speak and make known one's desires to God.—v.t. to ask earnestly and reverently, as in worship: to supplicate: to get by praying:—pr.p. prāy′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. prāyed.—ns. Pray′er, the act of praying: entreaty: the words used: solemn giving of thanks and praise to God, and a making known of our requests to Him: a form of prayer used in worship: a petition to a public body; Pray′er-book, a book containing prayers or forms of devotion.—adj. Pray′erful, full of, or given to, prayer: praying much or often: devotional.—adv. Pray′erfully.—n. Pray′erfulness.—adj. Pray′erless, without or not using prayer.—adv. Pray′erlessly.—ns. Pray′erlessness; Pray′er-meet′ing, a shorter and simpler form of public religious service, in which laymen often take part; Pray′er-mong′er, one who prays mechanically; Pray′er-rug, a small carpet on which a Moslem kneels at prayer; Pray′ing, the act of making a prayer: a prayer made.—adj. given to prayer.—ns. Pray′ing-machine′, -mill, -wheel, a revolving apparatus used for prayer in Tibet and elsewhere. [O. Fr. preier (Fr. prier)—L. precāri—prex, precis, a prayer.]
Pre-, prē, before, in compound words like preanal, preauditory, preaxial, prebasal, prebrachial, precardiac, precentral, precerebral, precloacal, precordial, precoracoid, predentate, pre-esophageal, &c.
Preace, prēs, n. (Spens.). Same as Prease.
Preach, prēch, v.i. to pronounce a public discourse on sacred subjects: to discourse earnestly: to give advice in an offensive or obtrusive manner.—v.t. to publish in religious discourses: to deliver, as a sermon: to teach publicly.—n. (coll.) a sermon.—ns. Preach′er, one who discourses publicly on religious matter: a minister or clergyman; Preach′ership.—v.i. Preach′ify, to preach tediously: to weary with lengthy advice.—ns. Preach′ing, the act of preaching: a public religious discourse: a sermon; Preach′ing-cross, a cross in an open place at which monks, &c., preached.—n.pl. Preach′ing-frī′ars, the Dominicans.—n. Preach′ment, a sermon, in contempt: a discourse affectedly solemn.—adj. Preach′y, given to tedious moralising.—Preach down, and up, to decry, or the opposite. [Fr. prêcher (It. predicare)—L. prædicāre, -ātum, to proclaim.]
Preacquaint, prē-ak-kwānt′, v.t. to acquaint beforehand.—n. Preacquaint′ance, previous knowledge.
Pre-Adamite, prē-ad′a-mīt, n. one who lived before Adam.—adjs. Preadam′ic, -al; Preadamit′ic, -al.
Preadaptation, prē-ad-ap-tā′shun, n. previous adjustment of means to some end.
Preadjustment, prē-ad-just′ment, n. previous arrangement.
Preadmission, prē-ad-mish′un, n. previous admission.