litany

American  

[lit-n-ee] / ˈlɪt n i /

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

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litany British  

/ 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

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litany Cultural  

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.”

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Etymology

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 -y ³; replacing Middle English letanie, Old English letanīa < Medieval Latin, Late Latin, as above

Example Sentences

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

From Los Angeles Times

Taissa, meanwhile, describes a litany of successes that actually came to pass: Howard University, “a bunch of beautiful women,” “first string on the soccer team,” Columbia Law.

From New York Times

He also received was sentenced to seven years in prison on a litany of charges including creating antigovernment propaganda and insulting Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

From New York Times

Having laid out a litany of shortcomings, the inquiry calls for a fresh external review of the police force.

From Seattle Times

In the 13-page document with dozens of citations, the lawmakers laid out a litany of actions from the company debunking its claims.

From Salon

Related Words

• catalogue
• recitation
• repetition