lewd

English

/ljuːd/, /lud/

adj
Definitions
  • Lascivious, sexually promiscuous, rude.
  • (obsolete) Lay; not clerical.
  • (obsolete) Uneducated.
  • (obsolete) Vulgar, common; typical of the lower orders.
  • (obsolete) Base, vile, reprehensible.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English lewed inherited from Old English lǣwede (lay, unlearned, ignorant) derived from Proto-Germanic *lēwijaną (betray) derived from Proto-Indo-European *lēw- (sound, sing out, resound, leave) derived from Latin *laigo- derived from laicus (of the people).

Origin

laicus

Gloss

of the people

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms