资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Secular \Sec"u*lar\, a. [OE. secular, seculer. L. saecularis,
   fr. saeculum a race, generation, age, the times, the world;
   perhaps akin to E. soul: cf. F. s['e]culier.]
   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. (Eccl.) 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.    --Chaucer.

   {Secular equation} (Astron.), the algebraic or numerical
      expression of the magnitude of the inequalities in a
      planet's motion that remain after the inequalities of a
      short period have been allowed for.

   {Secular games} (Rom. Antiq.), 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.

资料来源 : WordNet®

secular games
     n : the centennial rites and games of ancient Rome that marked
         the commencement of a new generation (100 years
         representing the longest life in a generation);
         observances may have begun as early as the 5th century BC
         and lasted well into the Christian Era [syn: {Ludi
         Saeculares}]