laity
/ˈleɪ.ə.ti/ noun C2- People of a church who are not ordained clergy or clerics.
- The common man or woman.
- The unlearned, untrained or ignorant.
Plural laities
From the library
“My dear Miss Elizabeth, I have the highest opinion in the world of your excellent judgment in all matters within the scope of your understanding, but permit me to say that there must be a wide difference between the established forms of ceremony amongst the laity and those which regulate the clergy; for, give me leave to observe that I consider the clerical office as equal in point of dignity with the highest rank in the kingdom--provided that a proper humility of behaviour is at the same time maintained.
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