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an not belonging to some particular profession, in distinction from those who do. Being a layman, I ought not to have concerned myself with speculations which belong to the profession. Dryden.

Any person (clergyman or layman) chosen to conduct religious exercises for a society, etc.; as, a chaplain of a Masonic or a temperance lodge.

A parish officer, being a layman who leads in reading the responses of the Episcopal church service, and otherwise assists in it. [Eng.] Hook. And like unlettered clerk still cry "Amen". Shak.

ary prigs epicene. Prof. Wilson. He represented an epicene species, neither churchman nor layman. J. A. Symonds.

To place the profits of (ecclesiastical property) in the hands of a layman for care and disbursement.

The act of putting an ecclesiastical benefice in the hands of a layman, or lay corporation.

One who impropriates; specifically, a layman in possession of church property.

A layman. Bp. Morton.

Of or pertaining to a layman or the laity. "Laical literature." Lowell. An unprincipled, unedified, and laic rabble. Milton.

The state or quality of being laic; the state or condition of a layman.

As a layman; after the manner of a layman; as, to treat a matter laically.

The state of a layman. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

a convent of monks under the three vows, but not in holy orders. -- Lay clerk (Eccl.), a layman who leads the responses of the congregation, etc., in the church service. Hook. -- Lay days (Com.), time allowed in a charter party for taking in and discharging cargo. McElrath. -- Lay elder. See 2d Elder, 3, note.…

A layman authorized to read parts of the public service of the church.

The condition of being a layman. [Obs.] Milton.

parish poor. Dryden. Parish clerk. (a) The clerk or recording officer of a parish. (b) A layman who leads in the responses and otherwise assists in the service of the Church of England. -- Parish court, in Louisiana, a court in each parish.

A judicatory consisting of all the ministers within a certain district, and one layman, who is a ruling elder, from each parish or church, commissioned to represent the church in conjunction with the pastor. This body has a general jurisdiction over the churches under its care, and next below the provincial synod in au…

A clergyman or layman who promotes revivals of religion; an advocate for religious revivals; sometimes, specifically, a clergyman, without a particular charge, who goes about to promote revivals. Also used adjectively.

A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman.