figurative. In biblical and religious language, applied (as collective plural) to persons, in expressed or implied correlation with shepherd…

figurative. A spiritual flock. Cf. flock, n.1 4. Obsolete.

The lay people, laity; also, a layman. Obsolete.

figurative. In spiritual sense, of a body or the whole body of Christians, in relation to Christ as the ‘Chief Shepherd’, or of a congregation in…

figurative, esp in a spiritual sense.

As a rendering of Greek κλήρος, and of κλήρων in 1 Peter v. 3; see quots.

The body of temporal persons or laymen, the laity; the temporal estate or estates of the realm, i.e. the temporal peers and the commons.

The laity, lay people collectively. Originally in of the lay fee. Obsolete.

The body or class of temporal persons; = temporalty, n. 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, n. In 1548 a…

Laity.

In singular. Chiefly with the. Christian Church. The lay people, as distinguished from the clergy; the laity as a class or group.

A member of the laity; a layman or laywoman.