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Laity

Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

Black's Law Dictionary

In English law

Those persons who do not make a part of the clergy. They are divided into three states: (1) Civil, including all the nation, except the clergy, the army, and navy, and subdivided into the nobility and the commonalty; (2) military; (3) maritime, consisting of the navy.

Wharton.