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

Among a litany of other ventures, he also founded the Latin American media outlet EXA Radio and TV.

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The 49ers are continuing to win despite a litany of key injuries.

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A preliminary report into last month's funicular crash in Lisbon that killed 16 people has detailed a litany of failings.

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Critics accused her government of unjustly jailing her chief rival, passing draconian anti-press freedom laws, and perpetrating a litany of rights abuses including the murder of opposition activists.

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Despite the litany of fiascoes over the last few years, probation leaders still argued in court filings that Bonta had gone too far.

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Related Words

• catalogue 
• recitation 
• repetition