Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Litany
Lit′a-ny
(lĭt′ȧ-ny̆)
, Noun.
pl.
Litanies
(lĭt′ȧ-nĭz)
. [OE.
letanie
, OF. letanie
, F. litanie
, L. litania
, Gr. λιτανεία
, fr. λιτανεύειν
to pray, akin to λίτεσθαι
, λίσσεσθαι
, to pray, λιτή
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.
Supplications . . . for the appeasing of God’s wrath were of the Greek church termed
litanies
, and rogations of the Latin. Hooker.
Webster 1828 Edition
Litany
LIT'ANY
,Noun.
A solemn form of supplication, used in public worship.
Supplications for the appeasing of God's wrath, were by the Greek church termed litanies, by the Latin, rogations.