a. [ Compar. Lewder superl. Lewdest. ] [ OE. lewed, lewd, lay, ignorant, vile, AS. l&aemacr_;wed laical, belonging to the laity. ] 1. Not clerical; laic; laical; hence, unlearned; simple. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] For if a priest be foul, on whom we trust,
No wonder is a lewed man to rust. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] So these great clerks their little wisdom show
To mock the lewd, as learn'd in this as they. Sir. J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Belonging to the lower classes, or the rabble; idle and lawless; bad; vicious. [ Archaic ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Too lewd to work, and ready for any kind of mischief. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Given to the promiscuous indulgence of lust; dissolute; lustful; libidinous. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Suiting, or proceeding from, lustfulness; involving unlawful sexual desire; as, lewd thoughts, conduct, or language. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- Lustful; libidinous; licentious; profligate; dissolute; sensual; unchaste; impure; lascivious; lecherous; rakish; debauched. -- Lewd"ly, adv. -- Lewd"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
