LITANY Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

litany

[ lit-n-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural litanies.

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.
Synonyms: , ,

litany

/ ˈ��ɪ��ə��ɪ /

noun

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
any long or tedious speech or recital

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.”

Discover More

�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of litany¹

before 900; < Late Latin ��ٲ��ī�� < Late Greek ��ٲ��Ա�í�� litany, Greek: an entreating, equivalent to litan- (stem of ��ٲ�í�Ա𾱲�, variant of ��ٲ��Ա�ú�𾱲� to pray) + -eia -y ³; replacing Middle English letanie, Old English ��ٲ��ī�� < Medieval Latin, Late Latin, as above

Discover More

�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of litany¹

C13: via Old French from Medieval Latin ��ٲ��ī�� from Late Greek litaneia prayer, ultimately from Greek ��ŧ entreaty

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Fire safety advocates have attributed the continuing upward trend of acre zones to a litany of factors from development in fire-prone areas, ecosystem changes and climate change.

From

Over the course of the decade-long tenancy, the pair said they pleaded with the company to fix the litany of problems.

From

Of course, the decks are shuffled much more frequently in the Trump Cabinet, but only because his reality show is not beholden to network episode orders and a litany of contractual agreements to be fulfilled.

From

Hochman argued that the brothers' claims of self-defence was part of a litany of "lies."

From

The Rancho Cordova Republican voted for Trump and cited a litany of ills plaguing the state, among them high gas prices and the steep cost of living.

From

Related �y��vlogs

Browse