Prey [sic] Tell

I am a native EFL (English as a First Language) speaker. Well, to be more accurate, I speak a version of Standard American English that seems to be understood and validated by the masses. Suffice it to say, no matter how my 'voice' is presented (in handwriting, typed, or printed by a printer), the reader or listener general knows whence comest the text.
I purposely wrote pray (as in the phrase 'pray tell') incorrectly. Unlike English variations such as gray/grey or color/colour, pray and prey are two different words as opposed to being the same word with a spelling variation.

English

Etymology
From pray (“ask (politely)”) + tell (“explain”)

Interjection
pray tell

1. (archaic) Please explain (something the requester does not yet understand).
   Pray tell us, how will they fare while you are away?
2. (idiomatic, usually sarcastic) Expressing incredulity, please explain (some claim or position the speaker doubts).
   But how, pray tell, do you "notice" something that happens when you're asleep?

Usage notes
When "pray" was used to emphasize requests, this standard construction (as, "pray come here", "pray help us", "pray leave me") was an earnest request for information. The phrase is now, however, usually used ironically to emphasize the unacceptability of something, especially when highlighting a logical fallacy.

Synonyms

• do tell (not often sarcastic)

I recently defended someone at work. He speaks ESL. In fact, he is from a place where he speaks the national language as a second language as well. Imagine that! So when I was speaking to him, I spoke very slowly, used no contractions, and often used more common words than I would normally apply in my discourse. I used hand gestures and asked him if he understood.
This did not go unnoticed by the Deciding Officer.
After the meeting I was asked to stay. The officer wanted to ask ME some questions. So I told the co-worker that I would see him outside. The officer asked me, "Why do you talk to him like a child?"
I told the man that I speak to him respectfully. I use simple language because that is what he is most comfortable hearing and what he can most easily understand.
He then asked, "Do you care about him?"
WOW! I said, "I work with people who have spent more years in post-graduate education than they had in primary education. Some of their language is formal and specific. When I talk to this man, I am challenged because I have to use words that don't come easily to me. I wind up using my heart rather than my brain when we communicate. So yes, I guess I do care about him."