litany

Everyday

1. (church) A litany is a long prayer in which a leader says a line and the people answer with the same response each time, like «Lord, have mercy». tree →
2. A litany is a long list of things, often complaints or problems, that seems to go on and on. tree →

In the lessons

Church lessons: the litany in Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox services. Everyday and news: «a litany of complaints», «a litany of mistakes». It tells the reader something is long and repeated.

Examples

• The priest led the litany and the people answered. tree →
• In the litany, everyone repeated «Hear our prayer». tree →
• He gave a litany of excuses for being late. tree →
• The report listed a litany of problems. tree →
• My brother has a litany of complaints about broccoli. tree →
• The old church still sings the litany on Sundays. tree →

Note

Plural: litanies (y → ies). Say «LIT-uh-nee».