0 present participle of pray
1 to speak to a god either privately or in a religious ceremony in order to express love, admiration, or thanks or in order to ask for something:
We pray for deliverance from our sins.
Let us pray for those who are not so fortunate as ourselves.
We're having the party in the garden, so I'm praying it'll be sunny.
But the frequent link between visiting a church and praying for the souls of people identified as buried there is suggestive.
The food is typically served only after any business, such as praying, is complete, and only then is there much conversation.
The custom of praying for one's dead parents (as well as forefathers) was also pervasive in all the three cultures.