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.
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