What's the difference between exorcise and prayer?

Exorcise


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To cast out, as a devil, evil spirits, etc., by conjuration or summoning by a holy name, or by certain ceremonies; to expel (a demon) or to conjure (a demon) to depart out of a person possessed by one.
  • (v. t.) To deliver or purify from the influence of an evil spirit or demon.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) The draw was enough to take England to the finals in Japan, where Beckham exorcised the demons of four years earlier by scoring the only goal (a dubiously awarded penalty) in the defeat of Argentina.
  • (2) The ghosts of Barbara Castle and Peter Shore , never mind Hugh Gaitskell (and, for much of his life, Harold Wilson), were never quite exorcised by the New Labour Europhiles.
  • (3) Woods certainly appears to have exorcised the demons that have haunted him in recent years, after his world collapsed in spectacular circumstances four years ago.
  • (4) The next day I began to draw, half-copying the woodcuts from the Chronicle, half exorcising my memory.
  • (5) Three minutes before the break Andy Taylor, a player with his own Wembley demons to exorcise having missed a crucial penalty here in the 2012 League One play-off final shootout when with Sheffield United, sent a dipping volley narrowly over the bar.
  • (6) In his unpretentious and beautifully written book, Guinness exorcised a long-suppressed anxiety about his origins.
  • (7) Mark Hoban has "ghosts to exorcise" from his bright corner office in Whitehall.
  • (8) Children and their services have been prey to causes célèbres, fashion and the exaggerated fads and foibles of the media and politicians; they have thrived best when society and their carers were tolerant, and loving, sought good qualities to augment, not evil to exorcise, and succeeded in balancing structure and control with flexibility and freedom to grow.
  • (9) Government officials say the trials, which human rights groups have criticised for failing to observe due process, are necessary to "exorcise historical ghosts".
  • (10) Psychoanalytic treatment is a cognitive technique for "exorcising" certain identifications by delineating them and then neutralizing them through understanding.
  • (11) The topic, again, is love and its discontents – Ware recently married and wanted to exorcise the ghosts of previous relationships.
  • (12) But there is a great deal of sympathy for the young team which is under immense pressure to win the World Cup on home turf and exorcise memories of the defeat by Uruguay in the 1950 final at the Maracanã.
  • (13) It sounded like a werewolf exorcising a roomful of crucified sopranos.)
  • (14) Brazilian Marcelo Huertas fed Larry Nance Jr for an alley-oop dunk in the fourth that had the fans cheering, seemingly exorcising the demons of another losing season for the once-proud franchise with the league’s third-worst record.
  • (15) Obama's foreign policy presidency has, in many respects, been an exercise in exorcising the demons of Iraq – and the mindset that made the war possible – from the American psyche.
  • (16) One of the offenders suggests that it's to exorcise the guilt he feels about Nannie's son James.
  • (17) Why break into song and dance to exorcise your inner emotions when you can talk yourself through it?
  • (18) It wasn't until the 1980s that he commanded his fiction to shine a documentary torch into his own life, to illuminate, and perhaps to exorcise his Shanghai ghosts.
  • (19) The demand that gay people “repent” or be exorcised (as one Nigerian bishop attempted with a gay campaigner in 1998) was neither acceptable nor even comprehensible in England by 2008, and still less today.
  • (20) Everyone now and then wants a hug.” Gasquet, who exorcised the demons of last year when he lost to Kyrgios in five sets and forfeited nine match points, said his opponent was “a very nice guy” but “was a little bit angry, a little bit frustrated” during the contentious episode in the second set.

Prayer


Definition:

  • (n.) One who prays; a supplicant.
  • (v. i.) The act of praying, or of asking a favor; earnest request or entreaty; hence, a petition or memorial addressed to a court or a legislative body.
  • (v. i.) The act of addressing supplication to a divinity, especially to the true God; the offering of adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving to the Supreme Being; as, public prayer; secret prayer.
  • (v. i.) The form of words used in praying; a formula of supplication; an expressed petition; especially, a supplication addressed to God; as, a written or extemporaneous prayer; to repeat one's prayers.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Tolokonnikova was given a two-year sentence for her part in Pussy Riot's "punk prayer" in Moscow's largest cathedral, calling on the Virgin Mary to "kick out Putin".
  • (2) The Chiefs chairman and chief executive, Clark Hunt, released a statement that said: "Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and everyone affected by the heartbreaking events of last Saturday.
  • (3) Tragedy was averted because there was a little delay as the prayers did not commence in earnest and the bomb strapped to the body of the girl went off and killed her,” he added.
  • (4) His "Oh God" prayer was actually written after the England team failed in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa but is likely to be useful in all future tournaments as well.
  • (5) King was 16th on an official programme that included the national anthem, the invocation, a prayer, a tribute to women, two sets of songs and nine other speakers.
  • (6) Video of Mecca pilgrim on 'hoverboard' divides opinion Read more The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, whose country is home to tens of millions of Muslims, said on Twitter: “My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives in the crane crash in Mecca.
  • (7) In the silence, I heard a car reversing in the courtyard and then the Þrst slow notes of the call to prayer.
  • (8) US agricultural secretary Tom Vilsack said: "I get on my knees every day, and I'm saying an extra prayer right now.
  • (9) Our fast will continue for as long as we prayerfully discern that we stand in need of repentance as a Church.
  • (10) They marched to the police roadblock, and performed a 21-gun salute for a fallen veteran and a prayer ceremony on the bridge.
  • (11) Pittman later told the AFP news agency: “She wanted to pay tribute, she loves this city.” Facebook Twitter Pinterest Madonna and son David sing Like a Prayer at the place de la République in Paris.
  • (12) "The thoughts and prayers of all in the taskforce are with his family and friends at this tragic time."
  • (13) He looks heavenward in prayer: "Pardon, Richard; they know not what they do."
  • (14) "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this very sad time."
  • (15) The prayer appeals for “grace to debate the issues in this referendum with honesty and openness”.
  • (16) For example, he is able to use the school's washing facilities and do a daily prayer at lunchtime if he wishes, entirely at his own discretion.
  • (17) He was speaking as 670 bishops prepared to leave the University of Kent campus after 18 days of reflection, prayers, conversations and efforts to hold a divided communion together.
  • (18) In the past week, much has been made of her quoting St Francis of Assisi's prayer, in her first words from Downing Street in 1979.
  • (19) We ask all of you to hold the victims, their families, and all those affected in your hearts and prayers.” Take That, who were playing a show at the Liverpool Echo Arena when the attack happened, cancelled the following night’s show in the city and postponed the dates they were due to play in Manchester on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
  • (20) In Paris Femen activists protested nude in front of the Tunisian embassy, mimicking the Muslim prayer in the street.