ˈlit( ə )nē, -ni noun
( -es )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Late Latin litania litany) of Middle English letanie, from Old French, from Late Latin litania, from Late Greek litaneia, from Greek, entreaty, supplication, from litaneuein to entreat, supplicate, from litanos entreating, from litē supplication; akin to Old English līm lime — more at lime
1.
a. : a liturgical prayer consisting of a series of invocations and supplications either read or sung usually with alternate responses by clergy and congregation
b. : a liturgical procession during which clergy and congregation sing or chant prayers
2. : a ritualistic repetition of prayers usually of praise and supplication
in his morning litany he could pray to be kept from lasciviousness — Carl Van Doren
3. : a recital or chant having the resonant or repetitive qualities associated with a litany
the author recites his litany of the great mysteries — birth, death, flood, water, sky — Sidney Alexander
the shrill litanies of shopboys — James Joyce
rehearsed her litany of symptoms — John Dollard & N.E.Miller