01 a. Not clerical; laic; laical; hence, unlearned; simple.
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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.
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2.
Belonging to the lower classes, or the rabble; idle and lawless; bad; vicious.[Archaic]“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.
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3.
Given to the promiscuous indulgence of lust; dissolute; lustful; libidinous.
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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.