Sec"u*lar (?), a. [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.) 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.
Prescott.
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.
Sec"u*lar, n. 1.
(Eccl.) A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by
monastic rules. Burke.
2. (Eccl.) A church official whose
functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir.
Busby.
3. A layman, as distinguished from a
clergyman.
Sec"u*lar (?), a. [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.) 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.
Prescott.
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.
Sec"u*lar, n. 1.
(Eccl.) A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by
monastic rules. Burke.
2. (Eccl.) A church official whose
functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir.
Busby.
3. A layman, as distinguished from a
clergyman.
