First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
litany
noun lit·a·ny \ˈli-tə-nē, ˈlit-nē\
: a prayer in a Christian church service in which the people at the service respond to lines spoken by the person who is leading the service
: a long list of complaints, problems, etc.
plural lit·a·nies
Full Definition of LITANY
1
: a prayer consisting of a series of invocations and supplications by the leader with alternate responses by the congregation
2
a : a resonant or repetitive chant <a litany of cheering phrases — Herman Wouk> b : a usually lengthy recitation or enumeration <a familiar litany of complaints> c : a sizable series or set <a litany of problems>
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Origin of LITANY
Middle English letanie, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin litania, from Late Greek litaneia, from Greek, entreaty, from litanos supplicant
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