litany

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: lit=a=ny

CIDE DICTIONARY

litany, n. [OE. letanie, OF. letanie, F. litanie, L. litania, Gr. litanei`a, fr. litaney`ein to pray, akin to li`tesqai, li`ssesqai, to pray, lith` prayer.].

 A solemn form of supplication in the public worship of various churches, in which the clergy and congregation join, the former leading and the latter responding in alternate sentences. It is usually of a penitential character.  [1913 Webster]
"Supplications . . . for the appeasing of God's wrath were of the Greek church termed litanies, and rogations of the Latin."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

litany, n. (pl. -ies)
1 a a series of petitions for use in church services or processions, usu. recited by the clergy and responded to in a recurring formula by the people. b (the Litany) that contained in the Book of Common Prayer.
2 a tedious recital (a litany of woes).

Etymology

ME f. OF letanie f. eccl.L litania f. Gk litaneia prayer f. lite supplication

THESAURUS

litany

Angelus, Ave, Ave Maria, Hail Mary, Kyrie Eleison, Paternoster, Sefer Torah, Torah, Torah scroll, Virginal, agape, aid prayer, appeal, asperges, aspersion, auricular confession, bar mitzvah, bas mitzvah, beadroll, beads, beseechment, bidding prayer, breviary, canon, catalogue, cataloguing, celebration, chaplet, church book, circumcision, collect, communion, confession, confirmation, contemplation, devotions, entreaty, enumeration, euchologion, euchology, farse, formulary, grace, high celebration, impetration, imploration, incense, intercession, inventory, inventorying, invocation, invocation of saints, kiss of peace, lectionary, lesser litany, list, listing, love feast, lustration, machzor, manual, meditation, missal, obsecration, obtestation, ordinal, orison, pax, petition, pontifical, prayer, prayer book, prayer wheel, processional, recital, recitation, reciting the rosary, ritual, rituale, rogation, rosary, rubric, service book, siddur, silent prayer, suit, supplication, telling of beads, thanks, thanksgiving, the confessional, the confessionary

ROGET THESAURUS

litany

Worship

N worship, adoration, devotion, aspiration, homage, service, humiliation, kneeling, genuflection, prostration, prayer, invocation, supplication, rogation, intercession, orison, holy breathing, petition, collect, litany, Lord's prayer, paternoster, beadroll, latria, dulia, hyperdulia, vigils, revival, cult, anxious meeting, camp meeting, ebenezer, virginal, thanksgiving, giving thanks, returning thanks, grace, praise, glorification, benediction, doxology, hosanna, hallelujah, allelujah, Te Deum, non nobis Domine, nunc dimittis, paean, benschen, Ave Maria, O Salutaris, Sanctus, The Annunciation, Tersanctus, Trisagion, psalm, psalmody, hymn, plain song, chant, chaunt, response, anthem, motet, antiphon, antiphony, oblation, sacrifice, incense, libation, burnt offering, heave offering, votive offering, offertory, discipline, self-discipline, self-examination, self-denial, fasting, divine service, office, duty, exercises, morning prayer, mass, matins, evensong, vespers, undernsong, tierce, holyday, worshipper, congregation, communicant, celebrant, worshipping, devout, devotional, reverent, pure, solemn, fervid, Int, hallelujah, allelujah!, hosanna!, glory be to God!, O Lord!, pray God that!, God grant, God bless, God save, God forbid!, sursum corda, making their lives a prayer, ora et labora, prayers ardent open heaven.