laity
(ˈleɪɪtɪ)
Forms: 6 layetie, 6–7 lai-, laytie, 6–8 laiety, 7 lay(e)ty, 7– laity.
[f. lai, lay a. + -ity. An AF. laité occurs, with the sense of ‘lay property’ (cf. realty, spiritualty), in Year-bk. 33 Ed. I (1864) 411.]
1. The condition or state of a layman; the not being in orders.
| 1616 Bullokar, Laitie, the estate or degree of a lay man. 1726 Ayliffe Parergon 208 The more usual Causes of this Deprivation are such as these, viz. a mere Laity, or want of Holy Orders [etc.]. 1831 Manning Let. in Life (1895) I. x. 72 The objection against my laity has been strongly urged. |
2. The body of the people not in orders as opposed to the clergy; laymen collectively. (The older term for ‘the laity’ was lay-fee. In 1548 a synonymous lealty occurs app. as a nonce-wd.)
| ? 1541 Constitutio T. Cranmeri et aliorum in Wilkins Concilia (1737) III. 862/2 In the yere of our Lord MDXLI it was agreed..that if any of the inferiour degree dyd receave at their table any Arch-bishop, Bishop,..or any of the laitie of lyke degree, as Duke, Marquess [etc.]. 1546 Langley tr. Pol. Verg. De Invent. iv. iii. 85 In the Christen common welthe there bee two sortes of menne one called the laytie. 1579 Fenton Guicciard. iii. (1599) 143 The diuision being no lesse amongst the spiritualtie then the layetie. 1660 R. Coke Power & Subj. 82 Both of them have power to consecrate the Sacrament of our Lord's Supper, and give it to the laity. 1710 Prideaux Orig. Tithes iii. 162 The Alienations.. of Tithes which gave unto the Laiety in France a civil Right to them. 1780 W. Cole in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) III. 68 Most of the Clerical Subscribers, and possibly many of the Layity. 1837–9 Hallam Hist. Lit. I. i. iii. §42 The clergy were now retrograding, while the laity were advancing. 1870 Dickens E. Drood ii, You may offer bad grammar to the laity, or the humbler clergy, but not to the Dean. |
3. Unprofessional people, as opposed to those who follow some learned profession, to artists, etc.
| 1832 Austin Jurispr. xxxviii, The laity (or non-lawyer part of the community) are competent to conceive the more general rules. 1875 Helps Ess., Organiz. Daily Life 107 Artists are wont to think the criticisms of the laity rather weak and superfluous. 1880 H. Quilter in Macm. Mag. Sept. 393 Most of the laity still connect the word pre-Raphaelitism with visions of gaunt melancholy women. 1898 Allbutt's Syst. Med. V. 281 The disease being one of the existence of which the laity may be said to be ignorant. |
Hence ˈlaityship nonce-wd., the position or personality of one of the laity; in quot. a jocular title.
| 1670 Eachard Cont. Clergy 128 Should I make thy laityship heir of such an estate..thou wouldest count me the wisest man that ever was since the creation. |