Lewd
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ljuËd/
- US IPA: /lud/
- enPR: loÍžod
- Rhymes: -uËd
Origin
From Middle English leud, leued, lewed ("unlearned, lay, lascivious"), from Old English lÇ£wede ("unlearned, ignorant, lay"), of obscure origin; most likely a derivative of the past participle of lÇ£wan ("to reveal, betray") in the sense of "exposed as being unlearned" or "easily betrayed, clueless", from Proto-Germanic *lÄ“wijanÄ… ("to betray"), from Proto-Germanic *lÄ“wÄ… ("an opportunity, cause"), from Proto-Indo-European *lÄ“w- ("to leave"). Cognate with Old High German gilÄen, firlÄen ("to betray"), Gothic ðŒ²ðŒ°ðŒ»ðŒ´ð…ðŒ¾ðŒ°ðŒ½ (galÄ“wjan, "to give over, betray"), Gothic ðŒ»ðŒ´ð…, ðŒ»ðŒ´ð…ðŒ° (lÄ“w, lÄ“wa, "an opportunity, cause").
Full definition of lewd
Adjective
lewd
- Lascivious, sexually promiscuous, rude.
- (obsolete) Lay; not clerical.
- Sir J. DaviesSo these great clerks their little wisdom show
To mock the lewd, as learn'd in this as they. - (obsolete) Uneducated.
- (obsolete) Vulgar, common; typical of the lower orders.
- Bible, Acts xvii. 5.But the Jews, which believed not, ... took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, ... and assaulted the house of Jason.
- SoutheyToo lewd to work, and ready for any kind of mischief.
- (obsolete) Base, vile, reprehensible.