praying
UK[ˈpreɪɪŋ]US[ˈpreɪɪŋ]
v
The present participle or gerund of the verb 'pray', meaning to speak to a god or deity, especially to give thanks or ask for help.
v
To hope or wish very strongly for something.
Etymology
The verb 'pray' entered English in the early 13th century from Old French 'preier', meaning "to ask, beg, plead". This, in turn, derives from Latin 'precari' ("to ask earnestly, beg, entreat"), a verb formed from the root 'prex' (genitive 'precis'), meaning "prayer, request". The Latin root is traced back to the Proto-Indo-European base prek-, meaning "to ask, request". The semantic journey is direct: from a general sense of "to ask earnestly", the word became specialized in Christian contexts to mean "to address a solemn request to God or a deity". The '-ing' suffix is a productive English inflection forming the present participle and gerund, indicating the ongoing action or state of making such a request or earnest wish.
Analysis
The word 'praying' is the present participle/gerund form of the verb 'pray'. It is not productively segmented into distinct morphemes in modern English. The base 'pray' is a simplex word.
Examples
She was praying for her family's safety during the storm.
I am praying that the interview goes well tomorrow.
They were seen praying quietly in the chapel.