Definition

1. Verb:
   • To reduce to lay status; to remove clerical or ecclesiastical character from: The primary meaning of "laicise" is to make something secular or non-religious, particularly by removing its formal connection to a church or religious institution. It involves transferring control from religious authorities to secular ones.

Usage

• General Usage: The verb "laicise" is used in contexts involving institutions, positions, or activities that were formerly under religious control. It describes the process of secularization.
• Formality: This is a formal term, most commonly used in historical, sociological, or religious studies contexts.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The government's policy was to laicise the education system.
  • Efforts to laicise the hospital were met with resistance from the founding religious order.

Advanced Usage

• Institutional Secularization: "Laicise" often refers to the formal, legal process of making public institutions (like schools or hospitals) secular.
  • The law was passed to laicise all state-funded schools.
• Personal Context: It can less commonly refer to the act of removing a cleric from their religious office or status.
  • The bishop was laicised by the Vatican after the scandal.

Variants and Related Words

• Laicize (verb): An alternative spelling, more common in American English.
  • The movement sought to laicize public institutions.
• Laicisation / Laicization (noun): The process or result of making something secular.
  • The laicisation of the state was a major political goal.
• Lay (adjective): Of or relating to people who are not members of the clergy.
  • The school board was now composed of lay members.

Synonyms

• Secularize: To make secular; to separate from religious or spiritual connection.
  • The king sought to secularize the monastery's lands.
• Deconsecrate: To remove the sacred character from (a church or other religious building). This is more specific to religious sites.

Antonyms

• Consecrate: To make or declare something sacred.
• Clericalize: To bring under the influence or control of a clergy.

Verb

1. reduce to lay status
   • laicize the parochial schools