v. Also -ise. [f. LAIC a. Cf. F. laïciser.] trans. To make lay; to deprive of a clerical character; to secularize, esp. to commit (a school, etc.) to the direction of laymen; to make (an office) tenable by laymen.
1870. Nonconformist, 30 Nov., 1133. A measure tending … to laicise … the constitution and government of the Universities.
1882. Q. Rev., Oct., 491. Clerical fellowships have been extinguished, and the Headships of Houses laicised.
1885. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 June, 3/2. The proposal to laicize the names of the Paris streets, and banish therefrom the word ‘Sainte.’
1896. Edin. Rev., July, 211. It is competent for the authority to laicise a public school.
Hence Laicizing vbl. sb. and ppl. a. Also Laicizer, one who laicizes. Laicism (see quot. 1796).
1796. Hist., in Ann. Reg., 185. This occasional exercise of the priestly function was denominated laicism, and represented as sacrilegious usurpation of the sacerdotal rights.
1884. Athenæum, 19 July, 79/3. The laicizing of the staff of masters.
1890. Ch. Rev., 22 Aug. First we had the laicising of the dons, then the marrying of the fellows.
1891. Tablet, 2 May, 691. In five years the laicisers have squandered 15 millions of francs.
1893. Nation (N. Y.), 24 Aug., 133/3. Certain laicizing Catholics.
1897. Dowden, Fr. Lit., 73. Whether it had its origin in a laicising of the irreverent celebration of the Feast of Fools.
