common prayer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Ecclesiastical, Historical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “common prayer” mean?
Prayer that is public, shared, and used collectively by a community, especially according to a fixed liturgical form.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Prayer that is public, shared, and used collectively by a community, especially according to a fixed liturgical form.
A formal set of prayers, rituals, and readings used in public Christian worship, particularly associated with the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer; by extension, any established, shared form of prayer used by a group.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Common Prayer' is strongly and specifically associated with the official 'Book of Common Prayer' (BCP) of the Church of England. In the US, it refers to the 'Book of Common Prayer' of the Episcopal Church, which has its own American revisions. The term is more culturally embedded and historically resonant in the UK.
Connotations
UK: Deep historical, legal, and cultural significance; traditional Anglican worship. US: Liturgical worship within the Episcopal Church and some other Anglican traditions; formal Protestant liturgy.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK discourse due to the established church and historical context. In the US, usage is largely confined to Episcopal/Anglican communities and literary/historical discussion.
Grammar
How to Use “common prayer” in a Sentence
[the] Book of Common Prayer[to] say/use common prayer[to] worship according to common prayer[a] service of common prayerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “common prayer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The congregation will common-pray using the ancient form.
- They common-prayed at dawn.
American English
- The parish common-prays according to the 1979 prayer book.
- We common-prayed together.
adverb
British English
- The service proceeded common-prayerly, with solemn dignity.
- They worshipped common-prayerly.
American English
- The rite was conducted common-prayerly.
- They responded common-prayerly.
adjective
British English
- The common-prayer tradition is central to Anglicanism.
- He preferred a common-prayer service.
American English
- They follow a common-prayer liturgy.
- The common-prayer book was on the altar.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical, theological, and literary studies discussing liturgy, church history, or the English Reformation.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation, except among practising Anglicans/Episcopalians discussing church services.
Technical
Precise term in liturgics and ecclesiology for authorised, standardised forms of public prayer.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “common prayer”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “common prayer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “common prayer”
- Using 'common prayer' uncapitalised when referring specifically to the 'Book of Common Prayer'. Saying 'a common prayer' (indefinite article) when referring to the liturgical system.
- Confusing 'common prayer' with 'common worship' (a more modern Anglican liturgical book).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While its most famous form is the Anglican 'Book of Common Prayer', the concept of fixed, shared prayers exists in many Christian denominations (e.g., Catholic Liturgy of the Hours). However, the term itself is overwhelmingly associated with Anglicanism.
It is unusual. The term usually functions as an uncountable noun referring to the system or tradition ('common prayer'), or as part of the proper noun 'Book of Common Prayer'. Saying 'a common prayer' might be misinterpreted as 'a frequent or ordinary prayer'.
'Common Prayer' refers to the historical prayer books (1662 in England). 'Common Worship' is the title of a collection of modern, alternative liturgy authorized for use in the Church of England since 2000.
It originally meant 'public' or 'shared by all', emphasising that the prayers were to be used by the whole congregation in a common language (English), not just by clergy in Latin. It signified unity and accessibility.
Prayer that is public, shared, and used collectively by a community, especially according to a fixed liturgical form.
Common prayer is usually formal, ecclesiastical, historical, literary in register.
Common prayer: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒmən ˈpreə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːmən ˈprer/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The bond of common prayer”
- “To hold to common prayer”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a community ('common') coming together to 'pray' in a shared, established way. Remember the famous 'Book of Common Prayer' as the key example.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMON PRAYER IS A SHARED ARCHITECTURE / COMMON PRAYER IS A UNIFYING LANGUAGE. It structures communal spiritual communication like a building or a common tongue.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary association of the term 'Common Prayer'?