Category:Secular

Sec"u*lar, a. Etym: [oe. secular, seculer. L. saecularis, fr. Saeculum a race, generation, age, the times, the world; perhaps akin To e. soul: cf. F. séculier.]

1. Coming or observed once in an age or a century. The secular year was kept but once a century. Addison.

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. Milton.

4. (eccl.)

Defn: 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. Prescett.

5. Belonging to the laity; lay; not clerical. I speak of folk in secular estate. Chaucer. Secular equation (astron.), 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. Antiq.), 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 poem, a hymn or poem composed for the secular Games, or sung or rehearsed at those games.

Secular Sec"u*lar, n.

1. (eccl.)

Defn: a secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules. Burke.

2. (eccl.)

Defn: a church official whose functions are confined to the vocal Department of the choir. Busby.

3. A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman.