English
laity
Laity comes from Latin laitas, and goes back to Ancient Greek λαός ‘people’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλαόςlaós‘people’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElaitas
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400laite
- Englishtodaylaity
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλαόςlaós‘people’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElaitas
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400laite
- Englishtodaylaity
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *leh₂w- ‘military action’
through Proto-Indo-European *leh₂wos ‘people (under arms)’
through Proto-Hellenic *lāwós ‘people, crowd’
Today it means
noun People of a church who are not ordained clergy or clerics.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek λαός / laity