a. and sb. Forms: 6–7 laik(e, (7 laycke), 7–8 layick(e, 7–9 laick(e, 6– laic. [ad. late L. lāicus, Gr. λᾱΐκός, f. λᾱός the people. Cf. OF. laic, laique.]
A. adj. Of or pertaining to a layman or the laity; non-clerical, secular, temporal; = LAY a.
1562. Winȝet (title), The last Blast of the Trompet of Godis worde … Put furth … At the desyre of ye inferiour ordoure of Clergie, and laic men.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 105, marg. Thrie ordouris of the Realme, Ecclesiastik, Nobilitie, and the laik sorte.
1626. Meade, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 220. It understands the King not to be merely laic, but a mixed person.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 86. A well voiced boy from the … top of their Churches sings Eulogies to Mahomet … and then each Laycke Pagan fals to devotion.
1662. J. Bargrave, Pope Alex. VII. (1867), 38. To avoid the appearance at a laic King’s court.
1736. Chandler, Hist. Persec., 10. The prosecution [of Socrates] was truly laick.
1821. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Imperf. Sympathies. A kind of secondary or laic-truth is tolerated, where clergy-truth—oath-truth, by the nature of the circumstances, is not required.
1861. Tulloch, Eng. Purit., ii. 291. The common life, clerical and laic, is of a very coarse kind.
B. sb. One of the laity; a layman or lay person; one who is not an ecclesiastic.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., X. 297. He sendis messingeris … with the fyre crose in thair handes,… sulde shaw it out to al man baith laikis and kirkmen.
1609. Bp. Hall, Disswas. fr. Poperie, Wks. (1627), 642. How wretchedly and fearefully must their poore layicks needs die!
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 167. If he be a Laick, he shall be excommunicated from every Christian thing.
1739. J. Trapp, Right. overmuch, 10. For unletter’d Laics to take upon them to expound or interpret the Scriptures.
1787. Sir J. Hawkins, Johnson, 261. The clergyman was now become an amphibious being, that is to say, both an ecclesiastic and a laic.
1823. Lingard, Hist. Eng., VI. 245. A committee of thirty-two members, half laics and half clergymen.
1847. Bushnell, Chr. Nurt., iv. (1861), 114. No person, whether laic or priest.
1884. Tennyson, Becket, I. i. Laics and barons, thro’ The random gifts of careless kings, have graspt Her livings.
