Forms: 6 layetie, 6–7 lai-, laytie, 6–8 laiety, 7 lay(e)ty, 7– laity. [f. lai, LAY a. + -(I)TY. An AF. laité occurs, with the sense of ‘lay property’ (cf. realty, spiritualty), in Year-bk. 33. Ed. I (1864), 411.]
1. The condition or state of a layman; the not being in orders.
1616. Bullokar, Laitie, the estate or degree of a lay man.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 208. The more usual Causes of this Deprivation are such as these, viz. a mere Laity, or want of Holy Orders [etc.].
1831. Manning, Lett., in Life (1895), I. x. 72. The objection against my laity has been strongly urged.
2. The body of the people not in orders as opposed to the clergy; laymen collectively, (The older term for ‘the laity’ was LAY FEE. In 1548 a synonymous lealty occurs app. as a nonce-wd.)
1541[?]. Constitutio T. Cranmeri et aliorum, in Wilkins, Concilia (1737), III. 862/2. In the yere of our Lord MDXLI it was agreed … that if any of the inferiour degree dyd receave at their table any Arch-bishop, Bishop,… or any of the laitie of lyke degree, as Duke, Marquess [etc.].
1546. Langley, trans. Pol. Verg. De Invent., IV. iii. 85. In the Christen common welthe there bee two sortes of menne one called the laytie.
1579. Fenton, Guicciard., III. (1599), 143. The diuision being no lesse amongst the spiritualtie then the layetie.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 82. Both of them have power to consecrate the Sacrament of our Lord’s Supper, and give it to the laity.
1710. Prideaux, Orig. Tithes, iii. 162. The Alienations … of Tithes which gave unto the Laiety in France a civil Right to them.
1780. W. Cole, in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), III. 68. Most of the Clerical Subscribers, and possibly many of the Layity.
1837–9. Hallam, Hist. Lit., I. I. iii. § 42. The clergy were now retrograding, while the laity were advancing.
1870. Dickens, E. Drood, ii. You may offer bad grammar to the laity, or the humbler clergy, but not to the Dean.
3. Unprofessional people, as opposed to those who follow some learned profession, to artists, etc.
1832. Austin, Jurispr., xxxviii. The laity (or non-lawyer part of the community) are competent to conceive the more general rules.
1875. Helps, Ess., Organiz. Daily Life, 107. Artists are wont to think the criticisms of the laity rather weak and superfluous.
1880. H. Quilter, in Macm. Mag., Sept., 393. Most of the laity still connect the word pre-Raphaelitism with visions of gaunt melancholy women.
1898. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 281. The disease being one of the existence of which the laity may be said to be ignorant.
Hence Laityship nonce-wd., the position or personality of one of the laity; in quot. a jocular title.
1670. Eachard, Cont. Clergy, 128. Should I make thy laityship heir of such an estate … thou wouldest count me the wisest man that ever was since the creation.
