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verb

pregare

pray · to pray

Rivolgersi a una divinità per chiedere aiuto, ringraziare o esprimere speranze.

Definition & meaning

The verb pregare has two primary meanings in Italian:

  1. To pray: To address God, a deity, or a saint in order to express devotion, make a request, or offer thanks.
  2. To beg, implore, or request: To ask someone for something in a polite, earnest, or insistent manner. It is often used as a formal way to invite someone to do something or to ask for a favor.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Grammar: It is a regular first-conjugation verb (-are). It is a transitive verb, meaning it can take a direct object (e.g., pregare qualcuno - to beg someone).
  • Origin: It derives from the Latin word precari, which means "to ask," "to pray," or "to entreat." This root is also the origin of the English words "precarious" (originally meaning something obtained by prayer or favor) and "imprecation."

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • Invocare (to invoke or call upon)
  • Supplicare (to implore or beseech)
  • Chiedere (to ask)
  • Implorare (to plead)
  • Invitare (to invite, when used in formal requests)

Antonyms:

  • Ordinare (to order or command)
  • Esigere (to demand or exact)
  • Imporre (to impose)

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Examples

Ogni sera mi piace pregare prima di dormire.verb

Every evening I like to pray before going to sleep.

I bambini hanno pregato in chiesa la domenica mattina.verb

The children prayed in church on Sunday morning.

Ti sei fermato un momento per pregare in silenzio?verb

Did you stop for a moment to pray in silence?

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