litany

[lit-n-ee]

noun

plural

litanies 

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

The state has been buffeted by a litany of layoffs this year from Hollywood to Silicon Valley — and beyond.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Atlas’ show can feel like a factory production line, with the host asking the same litany of questions every episode, leading to similar clips guaranteed to elicit predictable reactions from male viewers.

Read more on Salon

It is just one example in a litany of states practising indiscriminate election populism, according to Emkay Global.

Read more on BBC

Where in his first season, Lynn had a litany of experienced defenders from the transfer portal to lean on, his second season has made for a much different experience.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Oh, and watch House Speaker Mike Johnson shake his head in sorrow, a pained expression on his face, as the president lists this shocking litany of fraud.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• catalogue 
• recitation 
• repetition