---
title: litany — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «litany» in the school dictionary: A litany is a long prayer in which a leader says a line and the people answer with the same response each time, like «Lord, have mercy». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# litany

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** litany, leader, people, that, priest, everyone · **What happens:** be, say, answer, have, seem, go · **To what, where:** long prayer, line, mercy, long list, litany, prayer · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«litany» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [litany in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/litany.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: church — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A litany is a long prayer in which a leader says a line and the people answer with the same response each time, like «Lord, have mercy».

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litany:m1:1
# text = A litany is a long prayer in which a leader says a line and the people answer with the same response each time, like «Lord, have mercy».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	litany	litany	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	obl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	leader	leader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	line	line	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nsubj	_	_
17	answer	answer	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
18	with	with	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	21	amod	_	_
21	response	response	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
22	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	23	det	_	_
23	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	27	punct	_	_
25	like	like	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	27	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	Lord	Lord	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
29	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	parataxis	_	_
30	mercy	mercy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	29	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a litany | a long prayer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | a leader | a line |  | a long prayer |  |  | vn pronounce-29.3.1 «NP V NP PP.manner»: agent=Agent line=Theme in which=Manner |
| 3 | **answer** *speech: assert* | present | the people |  |  |  | time | with the same response; like Lord | tree rules |
| 4 | **have** *in a quote* | present |  | mercy |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mercy=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A litany is a long list of things, often complaints or problems, that seems to go on and on.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litany:m2:1
# text = A litany is a long list of things, often complaints or problems, that seems to go on and on.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	litany	litany	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	list	list	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	often	often	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	complaints	complaint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	xcomp	_	_
19	on	on	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	on	on	ADV	RB	_	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a litany | a long list |  |  |  | of things and complaints or problems | tree rules |
| 2 | **seem** | present | that |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 3 | **go** | to-infinitive | that *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The priest led the litany and the people answered.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litany:x1:1
# text = The priest led the litany and the people answered.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	priest	priest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	led	lead	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	litany	litany	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	answered	answer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lead** | past | the priest | the litany |  |  |  |  | vn accompany-51.7 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent litany=Theme |
| 2 | **answer** *speech: assert* | past | the people |  |  |  |  |  | vn reciprocate-112-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the litany, everyone repeated «Hear our prayer».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litany:x2:1
# text = In the litany, everyone repeated «Hear our prayer».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	litany	litany	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	everyone	everyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	6	nsubj	_	_
6	repeated	repeat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **repeat** | past | everyone |  |  | the litany |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **hear** *in a quote* | infinitive | everyone *not said here* | our prayer |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer prayer=Stimulus |
| 3 | **pray** *in a quote* |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom prayer «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He gave a litany of excuses for being late.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litany:x3:1
# text = He gave a litany of excuses for being late.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	litany	litany	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	excuses	excuse	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
8	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	cop	_	_
9	late	late	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | He | a litany of excuses |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent litany=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | late *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The report listed a litany of problems.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litany:x4:1
# text = The report listed a litany of problems.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	report	report	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	listed	list	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	litany	litany	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **list** | past | the report | a litany of problems |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My brother has a litany of complaints about broccoli.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litany:x5:1
# text = My brother has a litany of complaints about broccoli.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	litany	litany	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	complaints	complaint	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	broccoli	broccoli	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | My brother | a litany of complaints about broccoli |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent litany=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old church still sings the litany on Sundays.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litany:x6:1
# text = The old church still sings the litany on Sundays.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	church	church	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	still	still	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	sings	sing	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	litany	litany	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	Sundays	Sunday	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sing** *speech: express* | present | the old church | the litany |  |  | still; sunday |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location litany=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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