pry
English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /pɹaɪ/
- Rhymes: -aɪ
Etymology 1
From Middle English pryen, prien (“to look closely, peer into, pry, spy”), from Old English *prīwan, *prēowian (“to look narrowly, to squint at”), attested by Old English beprīwan, beprēwan (“to wink”). Akin to Old English *prēowot (“closing of the eyes”), attested only in combination, compare prēowthwīl (“blink or twinkling of an eye, moment”), Old English princ (“a wink”). More at prink.
Verb
pry (third-person singular simple present pries, present participle prying, simple past and past participle pried)
Translations
to look where one is not welcome; to be nosey
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Etymology 2
1800, back-formation from prize ("lever"), construed as a plural noun or as a 3rd-person singular verb.
Translations
lever
Verb
pry (third-person singular simple present pries, present participle prying, simple past and past participle pried)
Translations
use leverage to open or widen
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Translations to be checked
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Anagrams
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