from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Litany \Lit"a*ny\ (l[i^]t"[.a]*n[y^]), n.; pl. {Litanies}
(l[i^]t"[.a]*n[i^]z). [OE. letanie, OF. letanie, F. litanie,
L. litania, Gr. litanei`a, fr. litaney`ein to pray, akin to
li`tesqai, li`ssesqai, to pray, lith` 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.
[1913 Webster]
Supplications . . . for the appeasing of God's wrath
were of the Greek church termed litanies, and rogations
of the Latin. --Hooker.
[1913 Webster]