51Թ

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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: , ,


litany

/ ˈɪəɪ /

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.”

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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of litany1

before 900; < Late Latin ٲī < Late Greek ٲԱí litany, Greek: an entreating, equivalent to litan- (stem of ٲíԱ𾱲, variant of ٲԱú𾱲 to pray) + -eia -y 3; replacing Middle English letanie, Old English ٲī < Medieval Latin, Late Latin, as above
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of litany1

C13: via Old French from Medieval Latin ٲī from Late Greek litaneia prayer, ultimately from Greek ŧ entreaty
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

She described a litany of abuse directed at her by her former partner including being strangled, verbally abused in public and threatened.

From

The announcement comes as higher education has been roiled by a litany of policy changes related to foreign students.

From

The former Disney Channel star, 23, detailed a litany of alleged abuses by Burgin, 21, in her request filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

From

His replacement, Nathan Hochman, has vehemently opposed the brothers' efforts to be freed and argued they have not "demonstrated true accountability" and instead have clung to a litany of "lies" about the case.

From

All the while they will be singing a litany and the hymn Veni Creator - an invocation to the Holy Spirit, which is seen as the guiding hand that will help cardinals choose the new Pope.

From

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