"pray tell" meaning in English

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "pray",
        "3": "",
        "4": "ask (politely)"
      },
      "expansion": "pray (“ask (politely)”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "tell",
        "3": "",
        "4": "explain"
      },
      "expansion": "tell (“explain”)",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "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": "61 39",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with language name categories using raw markup",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "59 41",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English imperative sentences",
          "parents": [
            "Imperative sentences",
            "Sentences"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "55 45",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "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": "55 45",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "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",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "pray tell"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
    "English imperative sentences",
    "English interjections",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "pray",
        "3": "",
        "4": "ask (politely)"
      },
      "expansion": "pray (“ask (politely)”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "tell",
        "3": "",
        "4": "explain"
      },
      "expansion": "tell (“explain”)",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "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",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "english": "not often sarcastic",
      "word": "do tell"
    }
  ],
  "word": "pray tell"
}