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secular

 - 3 dictionary results

sec⋅u⋅lar

[sek-yuh-ler]
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred; temporal: secular interests.
2. not pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to sacred ): secular music.
3. (of education, a school, etc.) concerned with nonreligious subjects.
4. (of members of the clergy) not belonging to a religious order; not bound by monastic vows (opposed to regular ).
5. occurring or celebrated once in an age or century: the secular games of Rome.
6. going on from age to age; continuing through long ages.
–noun
7. a layperson.
8. one of the secular clergy.

Origin:
1250–1300; < ML sēculāris, LL saeculāris worldly, temporal (opposed to eternal), L: of an age, equiv. to L saecul(um) long period of time + -āris -ar 1 ; r. ME seculer < OF < L, as above


sec⋅u⋅lar⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To secular
sec·u·lar   (sěk'yə-lər)   
adj.  
  1. Worldly rather than spiritual.

  2. Not specifically relating to religion or to a religious body: secular music.

  3. Relating to or advocating secularism.

  4. Not bound by monastic restrictions, especially not belonging to a religious order. Used of the clergy.

  5. Occurring or observed once in an age or century.

  6. Lasting from century to century.

n.  
  1. A member of the secular clergy.

  2. A layperson.


[Middle English, from Old French seculer, from Late Latin saeculāris, from Latin, of an age, from saeculum, generation, age.]
sec'u·lar·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Financial Dictionary

Secular

An adjective used to describe a long-term time frame, usually at least 10 years.

Investopedia Commentary

For example, in his book "Stocks For the Long Run", Jeremy Siegel (finance professor at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania) argues that equity securities (particular American equities) will likely outperform the other major asset classes on a secular basis, or over the long term. He backs this argument up with the fact that between 1871-2001 during any rolling 30-year period (a period long enough to be considered secular) stocks outperformed all other asset classes, in particular bonds and T-bills.

Related Links

Cyclical Versus Non-Cyclical Stocks
The Ups And Downs Of Investing In Cyclical Stocks

See also: Asset Class, Bond, Cyclical Industry, Cyclical Stock, Long Term, Long-Term Assets, Medium Term, Short Term, Treasury Bill

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