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

McCartney pleaded guilty to a litany of child sex offences and the manslaughter of 12-year-old Cimarron Thomas, who took her own life minutes after an online chat with him in 2018.

From BBC

However, they hung in there to the end in all five despite a litany of miscues.

From Los Angeles Times

Georgia's Isfed group reported a litany of violations, including bribery, intimidation and ballot-stuffing, and said the result "cannot be seen as truly reflecting the preferences of Georgian voters".

From BBC

Alexander McCartney is one of the world's most prolific online child abusers and his litany of crimes has been described as "the UK's largest catfishing case".

From BBC

Among the bill’s supporters’ litany of wishes: They want taxpayers to help prop up “advanced” chemical recycling methods that companies have oversold as a solution for plastic-choked oceans and communities.

From Salon

Related Words

• catalogue
• recitation
• repetition