| secular | 1. A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules. 2. A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir. 3. A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman. 1. Coming or observed once in an age or a century. "The secular year was kept but once a century." (Addison) 2. Pertaining to an age, or the progress of ages, or to a long period of time; accomplished in a long progress of time; as, secular inequality; the secular refrigeration of the globe. 3. Of or pertaining to this present world, or to things not spiritual or holy; relating to temporal as distinguished from eternal interests; not immediately or primarily respecting the soul, but the body; worldly. "New foes arise, Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains." (Milton) 4. Not regular; not bound by monastic vows or rules; not confined to a monastery, or subject to the rules of a religious community; as, a secular priest. "He tried to enforce a stricter discipline and greater regard for morals, both in the religious orders and the secular clergy." (Prescett) 5. Belonging to the laity; lay; not clerical. "I speak of folk in secular estate. <astronomy>" (Chaucer) Secular equation, games celebrated, at long but irregular intervals, for three days and nights, with sacrifices, theatrical shows, combats, sports, and the like. Secular music, any music or songs not adapted to sacred uses. Secular hymn or poem, a hymn or poem composed for the secular games, or sung or rehearsed at those games. Origin: OE. Secular, seculer. L. Saecularis, fr. Saeculum a race, generation, age, the times, the world; perhaps akin to E. Soul: cf. F. Seculier. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| secular equilibrium | A type of radioactive equilibrium in which the half-life of the precursor (parent) radioisotope is so much longer than that of the product (daughter) that the radioactivity of the daughter becomes equal to that of the parent with time. Stable equilibrium, equilibrium in which, after every small perturbation, the original state will tend to be restored. Transient equilibrium, a type of radioactive equilibrium in which the half-life of the parent radioisotope is longer than that of the daughter so that the ratio of activities of parent and daughter become constant as they decrease with time. Unstable equilibrium, equilibrium in which the response to a small perturbation will tend to make the perturbation greater (e.g., a logged feedback process of zero order). (05 Mar 2000) |
| secund | With all the parts grouped on one side or turned to one side (applied especially to inflorescences). (09 Oct 1997) |
| secundigravida | See: gravida. (05 Mar 2000) |
| secundina | Synonym: afterbirth. Origin: L. Secundinae, the afterbirth, fr. Secundus, second (05 Mar 2000) |
| secundine | 1. <botany> The second coat, or integument, of an ovule, lying within the primine. In the ripened seed the primine and secundine are usually united to form the testa, or outer seed coat. When they remain distinct the secundine becomes the mesosperm, as in the castor bean. 2. [Cf. F. Secondines] The afterbirth, or placenta and membranes; generally used in the plural. Origin: Cf. F. Secondine. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| secundines | Synonym: afterbirth. Origin: L. Secundinae, the afterbirth (05 Mar 2000) |
| secundipara | See: para. (05 Mar 2000) |
| secundum | According to. (09 Jan 1998) |
| securifera | <zoology> The Serrifera. Origin: NL, from L. Securis an ax + ferre to bear. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| securipalp | <zoology> One of a family of beetles having the maxillary palpi terminating in a hatchet-shaped joint. Origin: L. Securis ax, hatchet + E. Palp. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| security measures | Regulations to assure protection of property and equipment. (12 Dec 1998) |