# "Laity" derives from the Greek "laikos"

**URL:** <https://www.textkit.com/t/laity-derives-from-the-greek-laikos/8226>\
**Category:** Learning Greek\
**Created:** [January 2, 2009, 9:44am UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/laity-derives-from-the-greek-laikos/8226 "2009-01-02T09:44:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Neos](https://www.textkit.com/user_avatar/www.textkit.com/neos/32/37_2.png) [@Neos](https://www.textkit.com/u/Neos)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 9:44am UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/laity-derives-from-the-greek-laikos/8226/1 "2009-01-02T09:44:18Z")

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**Etymology of “laity”**

The word _ **laity** _ (the body of religious worshipers, as distinguished from the clergy), comes from the French _ **laite** _ from the late Latin _ **laicus** _, which is a transliteration of the Greek _ **laikos** _ (of the people; λαϊκός) from _ **laos** _ (people; λαός).

**From the same root:**  
_ **Lay, layman** _

**In Greek**  
_**a) laos:**_ people _[λαός]\_\_**b) laikos:**_ of the people, folk, vulgar _[λαϊκός]_

More: [http://ewonago.blogspot.com/](http://ewonago.blogspot.com/) [English Words of no Apparent Greek Origin]