litany
[ lit-n-ee ]
/ ˈlɪt n i /
noun, plural lit·a·nies.
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.
the Litany,
the supplication in this form in the Book of Common Prayer.
a recitation or recital that resembles a litany.
a prolonged or tedious account: We heard the whole litany of their complaints.
Origin of litany
before 900; < Late Latin
litanīa < Late Greek
litaneía litany, Greek: an entreating, equivalent to
litan- (stem of
litaínein, variant of
litaneúein to pray) +
-eia
-y3; replacing Middle English
letanie, Old English
letanīa < Medieval Latin, Late Latin, as above
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH litany
litany liturgyWords nearby litany
Example sentences from the Web for litany
British Dictionary definitions for litany
litany
/ (ˈlɪtənɪ) /
noun plural -nies
Christianity
- a form of prayer consisting of a series of invocations, each followed by an unvarying response
- the Litany the general supplication in this form included in the Book of Common Prayer
any long or tedious speech or recital
Word Origin for litany
C13: via Old French from Medieval Latin
litanīa from Late Greek
litaneia prayer, ultimately from Greek
litē entreaty
Cultural definitions for litany
litany
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.”