pray

the word 'pray' entered english in the late 13th century from the old french 'preier', which itself evolved from the latin verb 'precari', meaning 'to ask earnestly, beg, or entreat'. the latin term is related to 'prex', meaning 'prayer' or 'request', a root that can be traced back to the proto-indo-european base prek-, signifying 'to ask, request, or entreat'. the semantic core of earnestly asking or pleading has remained remarkably consistent. while its primary modern usage is religious, referring to communication with a deity, the secular sense of 'to hope or wish very strongly' retains the original notion of a heartfelt entreaty directed toward any desired outcome.

the word is a simplex form. it is derived from the latin verb 'precari' meaning 'to ask earnestly, to beg, to pray'. the functional role is that of a verb.