Where does “laïc” come from?
laïc (French) comes from Ecclesiastical Latin laicus, 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.
laïc (French): layman
Ancestry of “laïc”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ecclesiastical Latin | laicus | lay; unconsecrated |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | λαϊκός | of the people; popular |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | λᾱός | people; men; the people |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | lāwós | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | leh₂wos | people |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | leh₂- | to bark, howl; to be concealed |
Words derived from “laïc”