lay
adjective/leɪ/
/leɪ/
[only before noun]- not having expert knowledge or professional qualifications in a particular subject
- His book explains the theory for the lay public.
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- not in an official position in the Church
- a lay preacher
see also layman, laywoman
Word Originverb Old English lecgan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leggen and German legen, also to lie.
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lay