lewd

== English == === Etymology 1 === From Middle English lewed, lewd, leued (“unlearned, lay, lascivious”), from Old English lǣwede (“unlearned, ignorant, lay”), of uncertain origin. Formally similar to a derivative of the past participle of Old English lǣwan (“to reveal, betray”) in the sense of "exposed as being unlearned" or "easily betrayed, clueless", from Proto-West Germanic *lāwijan, from Proto-Germanic *lēwijaną (“to betray”), from *lēwą (“an opportunity, cause”), from Proto-Indo-European *lēw- (“to leave”). If so, then cognate with Old High German gilāen, firlāen (“to betray”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌴𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 (galēwjan, “to give over, betray”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐍅 (lēw, “an opportunity, cause”). Or, according to the OED, probably from Vulgar Latin *laigo-, from Late Latin lāicus (“of the people”), from Ancient Greek λαϊκός (laïkós). ==== Pronunciation ==== IPA(key): /ljuːd/ (yod-dropping) IPA(key): /luːd/ Rhymes: -uːd Homophone: leud ==== Adjective ==== lewd (comparative lewder, superlative lewdest) Lascivious, sexually promiscuous, rude. Synonyms: lubricious, lecherous (obsolete) Lay; not clerical. (obsolete) Uneducated. c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c.: My ſcoles are not for unthriftes untaught, / For frantick faitours half mad and half ſtraught; / But my learning is of another degree / To taunt theim like liddrons, lewde as thei bee. (obsolete) Vulgar, common; typical of the lower orders. (obsolete) Base, vile, reprehensible. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== lewd (plural lewds) A sexually suggestive image, particularly one which does not involve full nudity. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== lewd (third-person singular simple present lewds, present participle lewding, simple past and past participle lewded) (slang, ambitransitive) To express lust; to behave in a lewd manner. (fandom slang, transitive) To sexualize a character, especially in a fan illustration. === Etymology 2 === ==== Verb ==== lewd (third-person singular simple present lewds, present participle lewding, simple past and past participle lewded) (slang) Alternative form of lude (“take the drug quaalude”). === Further reading === “lewd”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present. “lewd”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Lewd”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC. === Anagrams === WLED, Weld, weld == Middle English == === Adjective === lewd alternative form of lewed