Hail Mary

Pronunciation: /heɪl ˈmɛri/

Definitions of Hail Mary

noun a name for a woman, combining 'Hail' as a greeting and 'Mary' as a name

Example Sentences

A1 I said a Hail Mary before my exam.

A2 She whispered a Hail Mary as she walked into the church.

B1 The football team attempted a Hail Mary pass in the final seconds of the game.

B2 The coach called for a Hail Mary play to try and win the game.

C1 The politician's last-minute decision was a Hail Mary attempt to salvage the campaign.

C2 The CEO's risky move was seen as a Hail Mary strategy to turn around the company's fortunes.

Examples of Hail Mary in a Sentence

formal The devout Catholic said a Hail Mary as she knelt in prayer.

informal I always say a quick Hail Mary before a big test.

slang Some players rely on a Hail Mary pass to win the game.

figurative She took a deep breath and said a silent Hail Mary before making the risky decision.

Grammatical Forms of Hail Mary

• past tense: Hailed
• plural: Hail Marys
• comparative: more Hail Mary
• superlative: most Hail Mary
• present tense: Hails
• future tense: will Hail
• perfect tense: have Hailed
• continuous tense: is Hailing
• singular: Hail Mary
• positive degree: Hail Mary
• infinitive: to Hail Mary
• gerund: Hailing Mary
• participle: Hailing Mary

Origin and Evolution of Hail Mary

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The term 'Hail Mary' originates from the Latin prayer 'Ave Maria' which begins with the words 'Hail Mary'. It is a traditional Catholic prayer that honors the Virgin Mary.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'Hail Mary' has become synonymous with a desperate plea or last-ditch effort, especially in sports, where it is used to describe a long shot or unlikely play that could turn the tide of a game.