laic

American  

[ley-ik] / ˈleɪ ɪk /

adjective

1. Also laical. lay; secular.

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noun

1. one of the laity.

laic British  

/ ˈleɪɪk /

adjective

1. of or involving the laity; secular

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noun

1. a rare word for layman

Other Word Forms

• laically adverb
• laicism noun

Etymology

Origin of laic

1555–65; < Late Latin lāicus < Greek lāikós of the people, equivalent to lā ( ós ) people + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

It's about what philosophical measures have to be taken to impose a powerful laic republic, unifying all.

From New York Times • Jan. 11, 2015

There is no distinction between laic and cleric in Islam.

From The Moors in Spain by Lane-Poole, Stanley

Far from acting with disregard to human life, the barbarians, moreover, knew nothing of the horrid punishments introduced at a later epoch by the laic and canonic laws under Roman and Byzantine influence.

From Mutual Aid; a factor of evolution by Kropotkin, Petr Alekseevich, kniaz

The functionaries, laic and clerical, assented with much joy; and the Colonel required and received Wildrake's assistance in putting on his cloak and rapier, as if he had been the dependent whose part he acted.

From Woodstock; or, the Cavalier by Scott, Walter, Sir

Luther himself, at the same time that he reserved to the new German church a certain measure of spontaneity and liberty, had placed it under the protection and preponderance of laic sovereigns.

From A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 4 by Black, Robert