liturgy

[ lit-er-jee ]

noun

, plural lit·ur·gies.

1. a form of public worship; ritual.
2. a collection of formularies for public worship.
3. a particular arrangement of services.
4. a particular form or type of the Eucharistic service.
5. the service of the Eucharist, especially this service Divine Liturgy in the Eastern Church.

liturgy

/ ˈlɪtədʒɪ /

noun

1. the forms of public services officially prescribed by a Church
2. Also calledDivine Liturgy often capital Eastern Churches the Eucharistic celebration
3. a particular order or form of public service laid down by a Church

Other Words From

• anti·litur·gy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of liturgy¹

1550–60; < Late Latin lītūrgia < Greek leitourgía public service, ecclesiastical Greek: Eucharist, equivalent to leitourg ( ós ) minister + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of liturgy¹

C16: via Medieval Latin, from Greek leitourgia, from leitourgos minister, from leit- people + ergon work

Example Sentences

"The shared commitment to love, to pray, to teach and to be an example – made in the baptismal liturgy – is made within the fellowship of the church," he said.

From BBC

First, the words to the Our Father should not be changed, especially in the liturgy.

From Seattle Times

In addition to the longstanding liturgy, the service includes a silent procession to the Salem Moravian Graveyard, also called “God’s Acre,” and concludes among the graves that go back generations.

From Seattle Times

It didn’t happen overnight, but freedom from the anti-communist liturgy, coupled with the disastrous second Iraq War, meant that conservatives went back to the future.

From Salon

During the morning liturgy, he delivered a lengthy homily with a set of marching orders to Rome-based priests at the start of a busy few days leading to Easter.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• observance
• rite
• ritual
• Sacrament