LITANY


Meaning of LITANY in English

n.

Pronunciation: ' li-t ə -n ē , ' lit-n ē

Function: noun

Inflected Form: plural -nies

Etymology: Middle English letanie, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin litania, from Late Greek litaneia, from Greek, entreaty, from litanos suppliant

Date: 13th century

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>

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.