Lit'a-ny, n.

n. [Lat. litania, Gr. λιτανεία, fr. λιτανεύειν, to pray, allied to λίτεσθαι, λίσσεσθαι, to pray, λιτή, prayer; Fr. litanie, Sp. litania, letania, Pr. letania and letanias, pl., It. litanie, letanie, letane, pl.]

1Sense 1. 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.” Hooker.

2Sense 2. Especially, a series of supplications for mercy and deliverance, used in the morning service of the Episcopal church.