Definition

1. Noun:
   • A formal prayer in Christian worship: A "litany" is a type of prayer consisting of a series of petitions recited by a leader, with set responses by the congregation.
   • A lengthy, repetitive, and often tedious list or recital: "Litany" can also describe any long, monotonous list or account of things, typically negative items like complaints or problems.

Examples

• Noun (Religious context):
  • The congregation responded with "Lord, have mercy" during the litany.
  • The priest led the faithful in a traditional litany for peace.
• Noun (Figurative context):
  • He endured a litany of questions from the interview panel.
  • The report detailed a litany of errors that led to the project's failure.

Advanced Usage

• "A litany of woes": A long list of troubles or misfortunes.
  • The meeting turned into a litany of woes about the company's finances.
• "Recite a litany": To list or describe a series of things in a repetitive, ritualistic manner.
  • She could recite a litany of reasons why the plan was flawed.

Variants and Related Words

• Liturgical (adj): Relating to formal public worship or rituals.
  • The service followed a strict liturgical format.
• Liturgist (n): A person who is an expert in or leads liturgical worship.

Synonyms

• Catalogue/List: A complete list of items, often in a systematic order.
• Recital: A detailed account or listing of a series of events or items.
• Enumeration: The action of mentioning a number of things one by one.

Related Phrases

• A string of: A series of similar or related things.
  • The team suffered a string of defeats. (This is similar to "a litany of defeats" but less formal and less suggestive of tedious repetition.)
• A catalog of ills: A list of problems or evils. (This is a close synonym for the figurative use of "litany".)

Related Idioms

• "A familiar litany": A list of complaints or statements that is heard so often it becomes predictable and tiresome.
  • His excuses were a familiar litany that nobody believed anymore.

Noun

1. a prayer consisting of a series of invocations by the priest with responses from the congregation
2. any long and tedious address or recital
   • the patient recited a litany of complaints
   • a litany of failures