Lewd (lūd), a.
[Compar. Lewder (-ẽr);
superl. Lewdest.] [OE. lewed,
lewd, lay, ignorant, vile, AS. lǣwed laical,
belonging to the laity.] 1. Not clerical; laic;
laical; hence, unlearned; simple. [Obs.]
For if a priest be foul, on whom we trust,
No wonder is a lewed man to rust.
Chaucer.
So these great clerks their little wisdom show
To mock the lewd, as learn'd in this as they.
Sir. J. Davies.
2. Belonging to the lower classes, or the
rabble; idle and lawless; bad; vicious. [Archaic]
Chaucer.
But the Jews, which believed not, . . . took unto them
certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, . . . and assaulted
the house of Jason.
Acts xvii. 5.
Too lewd to work, and ready for any kind of
mischief.
Southey.
3. Given to the promiscuous indulgence of
lust; dissolute; lustful; libidinous. Dryden.
4. Suiting, or proceeding from, lustfulness;
involving unlawful sexual desire; as, lewd thoughts, conduct,
or language.
Syn. -- Lustful; libidinous; licentious; profligate;
dissolute; sensual; unchaste; impure; lascivious; lecherous; rakish;
debauched.
-- Lewd"ly, adv. -- Lewd"ness,
n.