λειτουργία
Alt. λειτουργία, ἡ,
Etym. λειτουργέω
I. at Athens, "a liturgy", i. e. "a public duty", which the richer citizens discharged at their own expense.—The ordinary "liturgies" (ἐγκύκλιοι) were the γυμνασιαρχία, χορηγία, and ἑστίασις: the extraordinary, such as the τριηραρχία, were reserved for special occasions.
II. generally, "any service or ministration, help", NTest.
III. "the public service" of the gods, Arist.:— "the service or ministry" of priests, NTest.: hence our word "liturgy."