Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To recite Jewish liturgical prayers.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive to recite the Jewish liturgy; to pray

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Yiddish davnen, of unknown origin.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Yiddish דאַוונען (davnen).

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Examples

Comments

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  • A friend called this very odd combination of definitions to my attention:

    daven - n, a person with a huge cock

    However, the example given, " Dude, that's such a huge Daven! ", applies the term not to the whole person but to the appendage itself.

    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Daven

    If you read the prayers aloud

    You've blessings of which to be proud.

    A ritual maven

    Encouraged to daven

    Is bound to be found well-endowed.

    November 12, 2016