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'eculier.] 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 ∨ poem, a hymn or poem composed for the secular games, or sung or rehearsed at those games.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913. | 
