Cheyne, Thomas Kelly - Encyclopaedia Biblica v3 page 3823ff
1. The ordinary word for 'to pray' hithpallel, which, like the word for 'prayer,' tephillah, occurs in writings of all dates, has a root (Arab. phalla) meaning to 'rend' (see Wellh. IJG(3) I02, Reste Arabischen Heidentums(2), I26).
This may possibly throw a light on the original meaning of tephillah (cp paragraph 5). In illustration, cp Syr. ethkassaph, lit. 'to cut oneself' (WRS Rel. Sem. (2) 321, 337); also hithgoded (see below), 1 Ki 18:28; Jer 41:5 and Hos 7:14 katetemnonto; 'for corn and wine they cut themselves'). See Cuttings and compare with what is there said as to the significance of cuttings of flesh Robertson Smith referred to above. If this is correct, we may contrast tephillah with the Ass. ikribu, 'prayer,' from 'to show favor,' also 'to do homage,' unless, with some, we suppose an original form ikribu...
That 'prayer,' as conceived by the early Israelites, really had a connection with cuttings of the flesh is at once suggested by the later use of totaphoth, for tephillin, or 'phylacteries,' if these prayer-bands are really a substitute for the sacred marks punctured in the flesh of a worshipper in primitive times...
2. Akin, apparently, to hithpallel, in root meaning is athar; whence atara atira to sacrifice.
3. A different metaphor underlies hillah 'to mollify, appease' Ex 32:11; 1 Sam 13:12; Mal 1:9; Psa 45:13, etc.
4. hithhannen, to seek or implore favor, 1King 8:33, 47, 59; Hos 12:5; Job 8:5... Psa 6:10; 55:2; Jer 3:21; Psa 86:6...
5. Paga, prop. 'to meet', 'come upon' Ruth 1:16; Jer 7:16; 27:18. In Isa 53:12; 59:16; Jer 36:25, EV assigns the sense 'to intercede' to the Hiphil, but this cannot well be sustained; 'to interpose' would be safer.
6. Bea (Aram) Dan 6:14, etc... to seek an oracle Isa 21:12
7. sela, prop. 'to bow'; cp Ass. 'to beseech'; Aram, Dan 6:11; Ezra 6:10.
8. Sihah, Job 15:4... Psa 119:97, 99 'meditation'.
9. Lahas 'secret speech'... whisper Isa 26:16.
10. rinnah, 'a piercing cry', 1King 8:28; Jer 14:12, 'when they fast I will not hear their cry' Jer 7:16; 11:14; Psa 17:1; 61:2. In Hebrew rinnah is used both for shouts of joy and of the cry of suppliants; in Arabic, the root is used mainly of plkaintive cries...
11. siviwa 'to cry for help,' e.g. Job 30:20; Psa 28:2(1); with noun sawah Jer 8.19; Psa 18.7, etc.
12. zaak, same meaning e.g. Psa 22:6(5).
Besides many other more or less complete synonyms, such as daras, to seek to have or recourse to, e.g. Psa 34:5 (4), 'I sought Yahwe, and he answered me.'
13. bikkes 'to seek God,' e.g., Jer 29.12-13...
14. kara 'to call,' e.g. Psa 4.4(3); 28:1.
15. saphak nephes, 1 Sam 11:5; Psa 42:5(4), Psa 62:9(8); Lam 2:19; and saphak, Psa 102:1 (title), 143:3, 'to pour out the soul, the heart, a complaint.'