Etymology of the English word laity
the English word
laityusing the English suffix
-ityderived from the English word
layderived from the Old French word
laiderived from the Late Latin word
laicus (lay, common; of the laity; layman, one not belonging to the priesthood, in orders)
derived from the Greek word
laikos, λαϊκός
derived from the Greek word
laos, λαός (a people)
derived from the Vulgar Church Latin word
laicusderived from the Greek word
laikos, λαϊκός
derived from the Greek word
laos, λαός (a people)
derived from the English word
layderived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*legh- (to lie, to lay)
derived from the Proto-Germanic root
*lagjanan (to lie)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*legh- (to lie, to lay)
Date
The earliest known usage of laity in English dates from the 16th century.
Usage
Word found in Modern English
