to pray in aid

Pray \Pray\, v. t.
   1. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat;
      to implore; to beseech.
      [1913 Webster]

            And as this earl was preyed, so did he. --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

            We pray you . . . by ye reconciled to God. --2 Cor.
                                                  v. 20.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication;
      to entreat for.
      [1913 Webster]

            I know not how to pray your patience. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out
      of purgatory. --Milman.
      [1913 Webster]

   {To pray in aid}. (Law)
      (a) To call in as a helper one who has an interest in the
          cause. --Bacon.
      (b) A phrase often used to signify claiming the benefit of
          an argument. See under {Aid}. --Mozley & W.
          [1913 Webster]
    

Aid \Aid\, n. [F. aide, OF. a["i]de, a["i]e, fr. the verb. See
   {Aid}, v. t.]
   1. Help; succor; assistance; relief.
      [1913 Webster]

            An unconstitutional mode of obtaining aid. --Hallam.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The person or thing that promotes or helps in something
      done; a helper; an assistant.
      [1913 Webster]

            It is not good that man should be alone; let us make
            unto him an aid like unto himself.    --Tobit viii.
                                                  6.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Eng. Hist.) A subsidy granted to the king by Parliament;
      also, an exchequer loan.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Feudal Law) A pecuniary tribute paid by a vassal to his
      lord on special occasions. --Blackstone.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. An aid-de-camp, so called by abbreviation; as, a general's
      aid.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Aid prayer} (Law), a proceeding by which a defendant
      beseeches and claims assistance from some one who has a
      further or more permanent interest in the matter in suit.
      

   {To pray in aid}, to beseech and claim such assistance.
      [1913 Webster]