liturgy

[lit-er-jee] /ˈlɪt ər dʒi/
noun, plural liturgies.
1.
a form of public worship; ritual.
2.
a collection of formularies for public worship.
3.
a particular arrangement of services.
4.
a particular form or type of the Eucharistic service.
5.
the service of the Eucharist, especially this service (Divine Liturgy) in the Eastern Church.
Origin
1550-60; < Late Latin lītūrgia < Greek leitourgía public service, ecclesiastical Greek: Eucharist, equivalent to leitourg(ós) minister + -ia -y3
Related forms
antiliturgy, adjective
Can be confused
litany, liturgy.
Examples from the web for liturgy
  • liturgy has penetrated the work of leading pop musicians.
  • And then there are instances in which lines of songs closely resemble musical phrases in the liturgy.
  • We are in the position of anthropologists observing the rituals and liturgy of an alien culture.
  • Church liturgy was transformed, congregational singing stimulated, and new modes of communal living evolved.
British Dictionary definitions for liturgy

liturgy

/ˈlɪtədʒɪ/
noun (pl) -gies
1.
the forms of public services officially prescribed by a Church
2.
(often capital) (mainly Eastern Churches) Also called Divine Liturgy. the Eucharistic celebration
3.
a particular order or form of public service laid down by a Church
Word Origin
C16: via Medieval Latin, from Greek leitourgia, from leitourgos minister, from leit- people + ergon work
Word Origin and History for liturgy
n.

1550s, "the service of the Holy Eucharist," from Middle French liturgie or directly from Late Latin/Medieval Latin liturgia "public service, public worship," from Greek leitourgia "a liturgy; public duty, ministration, ministry," from leitourgos "one who performs a public ceremony or service, public servant," from leito- "public" (from laos "people;" cf. leiton "public hall," leite "priestess;" see lay (adj.)) + -ergos "that works," from ergon "work" (see urge (v.)). Meaning "collective formulas for the conduct of divine service in Christian churches" is from 1590s.