Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Secular?

\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. s['e]culier.] 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. --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.
\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.