litany

[ lit-n-ee ]

noun

, plural lit·a·nies.

1. a ceremonial or liturgical form of prayer consisting of a series of invocations or supplications with responses that are the same for a number in succession.
2. the Litany, the supplication in this form in the Book of Common Prayer.
3. a recitation or recital that resembles a litany.
4. a prolonged or tedious account:

   We heard the whole litany of their complaints.

   Synonyms: enumeration, catalog, list

litany

/ ˈlɪtənɪ /

noun

1. Christianity
   1. a form of prayer consisting of a series of invocations, each followed by an unvarying response
   2. the general supplication in this form included in the Book of Common Prayer
2. any long or tedious speech or recital

litany

1. In many religions, a ritual repetition of prayers. Usually a clergyman or singer chants a prayer, and the congregation makes a response, such as “Lord, have mercy.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of litany¹

before 900; < Late Latin litanīa < Late Greek litaneía litany, Greek: an entreating, equivalent to litan- (stem of litaínein, variant of litaneúein to pray) + -eia -y ³; replacing Middle English letanie, Old English letanīa < Medieval Latin, Late Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of litany¹

C13: via Old French from Medieval Latin litanīa from Late Greek litaneia prayer, ultimately from Greek litē entreaty

Example Sentences

But does anyone think this litany of tasks is an appropriate use of physician time?

From The Daily Beast

There has since been a shocking litany of thousands of cases of physical and sexual abuse of children.

From The Daily Beast

Well, despite the litany of issues at hand, this is an absolute win-win for Jackson.

From The Daily Beast

At which point you might recite the now-standard litany of “dark” Disney secrets.

From The Daily Beast

Fink ran through a litany of concerns: China, Japan, “the nonsense in Washington,” the Federal Reserve.

From The Daily Beast

If you can stand a few hours of talk from an old smacksman you may hear a sombre litany of horror.

From Project Gutenberg

The invocation, "Queen conceived without the stain of original sin," was added to the Litany of Loreto.

From Project Gutenberg

"Happen he gi' him both, and throwed in th' Litany," shouted another.

From Project Gutenberg

And she whispered back: "They will pray for those that travel by water in the Litany."

From Project Gutenberg

He then repeated a portion of the Litany of the Episcopal church, with apparent fervor.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• catalogue
• recitation
• repetition