lai

lay

adjective LEH Rare

Origin: Latin laicus, from Greek laïkos, 'of the people'

Also means

secular

Usage Note

Lai is the older or literary/religious form of laïque, meaning not belonging to the clergy. A frère lai is a lay brother in a monastery. In modern usage laïque is far more common; lai is mainly encountered in historical or ecclesiastical texts. The feminine is laie.

Examples

"Il était frère lai dans le monastère."

Natural Translation

He was a lay brother in the monastery.

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