Is litany only used in negative connotations?
I've been encountering the word litany in articles and some videos and they're sort of used to mean like "a list of", but upon looking in different dictionaries it seems like it is used to list some things that are repetitive or some things that are negative in a way.
An excerpt from an article:
The ideation session itself is the organized gathering of minds within that step where the litany of ideas is generated against some highly defined problems or desired outcomes.
The only dictionary source that I've seen that sort of defines it to list something in a generic way is Merriam-Webster, which defines it as "a sizable series or set" and yet it seems like these have negative connotations.
- a litany of problems
- The drug has a litany of possible side effects.
Just want to verify if I can use it some cases in the place of a list or set?
litany (n.)
A usually lengthy recitation or enumeration
a familiar litany of complaints M-W
A tedious recital or repetitive series.
a litany of complaints Lexico
(Litany is used negatively in all 21 of Lexico's examples.)
Draft additions 1997
A succession or catalogue of phenomena, esp. unfortunate events. OED
A search in Google Books specifically for positive uses turned up:
Indeed, while the August Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series of books, reminded us that space is big, it is not devoid of substance, being, as it is, infused with a dynamic litany of diverse astronomical objects. Martin Beech; Alpha Centauri
Between these bookends a litany of diverse figures extend their various brands of hospitality—Nestor, Menelaos, Kalypso, the Phaeacians, Kirke, Eumaios, the suitors, Penelope ... John Foley; Homer's Traditional Art
It is easy to assemble a diverse litany of attestations to Twain's centrality as the quintessentially “American” artist. Shelly F. Fishkin; Was Huck Black?
Trump, however, picked up the endorsement of former candidate Christie, an endorsement that received ample media attention, overshadowing the litany of endorsements received by Rubio. A. Pieper and J DeWitt; The Republican Resistance
Many people will see and agree with the value of wiretaps, tough measures, stronger laws, good solid police methods, but, unfortunately, the litany of good ideas is not matched with a corresponding litany of good results. Harold Smith; Transnational Crime
The secretary protested, offering a litany of achievements from his brief tenure. G. Sorenson and J. Burns; Dead Center
The show was nominated for a litany of awards, taking four Emmys, two People's Choice Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and three Grammys. It is remembered for its artistic cinematography, soundtrack, unique pastel color scheme... Leah Perry; The Cultural Politics of U.S. Immigration
An unwavering belief in their superiority causes HIs [Harboring Imposters] to wield others as pawns to attain the endless litany of awards reserved for those whose offerings outmatch their peers... Matt DeLisi; Routledge International Handbook of Psychopathy and Crime
She won a litany of awards from a diverse group of institutions. Sen. C. Schumer; Nomination of: Richard Cordray and Mary Jo White
In his third term as Chairman of Cable Labs, the research and development consortium for the cable industry, he has a long litany of prizes and awards. U.S. Senate Committee; The Comcast/NBC Universal Merger
If we look at the Ngram for litany of awards, we see it has trended up, but its frequency is flattened to insignificance when compared with litany of complaints.
As mentioned in a comment above, litany in its religious sense can be used positively, e.g. litanies of praise. I was not sure what I would find before searching Google Books regarding its general, non-pejorative sense.
I agree with Edwin Ashworth's comment (below) that the above examples: "...are usually in formal/esoteric registers" and "the number of pejorative usages is far greater, and has to be seen as potentially having at least a fairly strong negative pull on any usage."
The inclusion of the adjectives lengthy, tedious and repetitive in the above dictionary definitions of litany might account for an upswing in positive uses, for example an award presenter might say "I won't bore you with a litany of Ms. White's many other awards and prizes," where litany is being used as a long (flattering) recitation and perhaps ironically as well.
The bottom line is that I would not use litany to refer to a simple list without being aware of the connotations. The facts that all of Lexico's examples were pejorative uses is instructive. It would be helpful if dictionaries would update their definitions or add usages notes regarding the question of positive usage. (It appears that the OED added the general sense for litany only in 1997; however, it does leave the door open with "esp[ecially] unfortunate events.")