Herman Wouk
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A Short History of Litany
How do we love the word litany? Let us count the ways. We love its original 13th century meaning, still in use today, referring to a call-and-response prayer in which a series of lines are spoken alternately by a leader and a congregation. We love how litany has developed in the intervening centuries three figurative senses, and we love each of these as well: first, a sense meaning “repetitive chant”; next, the “lengthy recitation” sense owing to the repetitious—and sometimes interminable—nature of the original litany; and finally, an even broader sense referring to any sizeable series or set. Though litanies of this third sort tend to be unpleasant, we choose today to think of the loveliness found in the idea of “a litany of sonnets by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.”
Examples of litany in a Sentence
Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2025
Attorneys for the defense and prosecution are scheduled to argue a litany of motions, including the defense’s latest request to strike the death penalty, at Kohberger’s next hearing, which is next week.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2025
On his first day, Mr. Trump signed a litany of consequential executive orders on immigration, and new policies continue to be announced at breathtaking pace.
—Terence McGinley, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
The House Budget Committee on Wednesday heard a litany of concerns about finances at a handful of agencies, with some lawmakers accusing agency heads of thwarting efforts to delve into questionable spending.
—Dara Kam, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Litany.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/litany. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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litany
noun
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