\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['e]culier.]
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} or {poem}, a hymn or poem composed for the
   secular games, or sung or rehearsed at those games.

\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.