CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A recent incident at Adena Health System has intensified scrutiny of its cardiology department. A 65-year-old woman died during what should have been a routine heart catheterization, leading to pressing questions about the practices and credentials of the physicians involved. What happened after her time of death is concerning.
Laypeople is the time-honored term unless you’re specifically referring to men. Although in certain religious contexts, “the laity” is preferred.
Laypeople is a very new term. Layman is the time honored term, because people think -man means male. Werelay and wyflay would be gendered terms specifically referring to men or women, layman is ungendered.
In recent times we’ve changed the meaning of the suffix -man to be synonymous with the prefix were-.
It’s a shame, because it implies we were something we weren’t (re: sexism in that part of language) - but I am not defending the stance of not changing it. Just be aware: it’s new.
I absolutely agree, thank you for the spot check. Old dog got stuck in muscle memory before coffee. Editing.