n.; pl. Litanies [ 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 ]