"pray tell" meaning in English

{
  "etymology_text": "From pray (“ask (politely)”) + tell (“explain”).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "pray tell",
      "name": "en-interj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "intj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "54 46",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "80 20",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English imperative sentences",
          "parents": [
            "Imperative sentences",
            "Sentences"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "53 47",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "53 47",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Pray tell us, how will they fare while you are away?",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Please explain (something the requester does not yet understand)."
      ],
      "id": "en-pray_tell-en-intj-YkNfSwKg",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(archaic) Please explain (something the requester does not yet understand)."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "58 42",
          "english": "not often sarcastic",
          "word": "do tell"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "54 46",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "53 47",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "53 47",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "But how, pray tell, do you \"notice\" something that happens when you're asleep?",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Expressing incredulity, please explain (some claim or position the speaker doubts)."
      ],
      "id": "en-pray_tell-en-intj-LMnNh1vi",
      "links": [
        [
          "sarcastic",
          "sarcastic"
        ],
        [
          "incredulity",
          "incredulity"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic, usually sarcastic) Expressing incredulity, please explain (some claim or position the speaker doubts)."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "sarcastic",
        "usually"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "En-au-pray tell.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/5/5c/En-au-pray_tell.ogg/En-au-pray_tell.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/En-au-pray_tell.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "word": "pray tell"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English imperative sentences",
    "English interjections",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries"
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From pray (“ask (politely)”) + tell (“explain”).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "pray tell",
      "name": "en-interj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "intj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with archaic senses",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Pray tell us, how will they fare while you are away?",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Please explain (something the requester does not yet understand)."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(archaic) Please explain (something the requester does not yet understand)."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English idioms",
        "English sarcastic terms",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "But how, pray tell, do you \"notice\" something that happens when you're asleep?",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Expressing incredulity, please explain (some claim or position the speaker doubts)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "sarcastic",
          "sarcastic"
        ],
        [
          "incredulity",
          "incredulity"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic, usually sarcastic) Expressing incredulity, please explain (some claim or position the speaker doubts)."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "sarcastic",
        "usually"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "En-au-pray tell.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/5/5c/En-au-pray_tell.ogg/En-au-pray_tell.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/En-au-pray_tell.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "english": "not often sarcastic",
      "word": "do tell"
    }
  ],
  "word": "pray tell"
}