Etymology Explorer › Ecclesiastical Latin

Where does “laicus” come from?

laicus (Ecclesiastical Latin) comes from Ancient Greek λαϊκός, from Ancient Greek λᾱός, from Proto-Hellenic lāwós, from Proto-Indo-European leh₂wos, from Proto-Indo-European leh₂- — to bark, howl; to be concealed.

laicus (Ecclesiastical Latin): lay; unconsecrated

Definitions

  1. lay; unconsecrated

Ancestry of “laicus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekλαϊκόςof the people; popular
2Ancient Greekλᾱόςpeople; men; the people
3Proto-Helleniclāwós—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₂wospeople
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₂-to bark, howl; to be concealed

Words derived from “laicus”

  • laicity
  • laïcat
  • laïc
  • laïcité
  • laiko
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leh₂- →