Secular
Secular , adjective
[Old English secular, seculer. Latin saecularis, from saeculum a race, generation, age, the times, the world; perhaps akin to English soul: compare French séculier.]
1.
Coming or observed once in an age or a century.
The secular year was kept but once a century.
2.
Pertaining to an age, or the progress of ages, or to a long period of time; accomplished in a long progress of time; as, secular inequality; the secular refrigeration of the globe.
3.
Of or pertaining to this present world, or to things not spiritual or holy; relating to temporal as distinguished from eternal interests; not immediately or primarily respecting the soul, but the body; worldly.
New foes arise,
Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains.
4.
(Ecclesiastical) Not regular; not bound by monastic vows or rules; not confined to a monastery, or subject to the rules of a religious community; as, a secular priest.
He tried to enforce a stricter discipline and greater regard for morals, both in the religious orders and the secular clergy.
5.
Belonging to the laity; lay; not clerical.
I speak of folk in secular estate.
Collocations (4)
Secular equation (Astronomy) , the algebraic or numerical expression of the magnitude of the inequalities in a planet's motion that remain after the inequalities of a short period have been allowed for.
Secular games (Rom. Antiquities) , games celebrated, at long but irregular intervals, for three days and nights, with sacrifices, theatrical shows, combats, sports, and the like.
Secular music , any music or songs not adapted to sacred uses.
Secular hymn or Secular poem , a hymn or poem composed for the secular games, or sung or rehearsed at those games.
Secular , noun
1.
(Ecclesiastical) A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules. — Burke
2.
(Ecclesiastical) A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir. — Busby
3.
A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman.