Verb

lewedCategory:English non-lemma forms#LEWEDCategory:English verb forms#LEWEDCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#LEWEDCategory:Pages with entries#LEWEDCategory:Pages with 2 entries#LEWED

1. simple past and past participle of lew

Alternative forms

• lewd, leud, leued, lewde, leude, lewede, lewide, lewyd, lewid, lewide, lowed
• læwede, leawede, læuued, læwedd, læwæde, leawde (Early Middle English)

Etymology

From Old EnglishCategory:Middle English terms inherited from Old English#LEWEDCategory:Middle English terms derived from Old English#LEWED lǣwede. According to the OED, of uncertainCategory:Middle English terms with unknown etymologies#LEWED origin, but probably from Vulgar LatinCategory:Middle English terms derived from Vulgar Latin#LEWED *laigo-, from Late LatinCategory:Middle English terms derived from Late Latin#LEWED laicus (“of the people”) + Old EnglishCategory:Middle English terms derived from Old English#LEWED -ede.

Otherwise, formally resembling a derivative of the past participle of Old EnglishCategory:Middle English terms derived from Old English#LEWED lǣwan (“to reveal, betray”) in the sense of "exposed as being unlearned" or "easily betrayed, clueless", from Proto-West GermanicCategory:Middle English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic#LEWED *lāwijan (“to betray”), influenced in meaning by Latin laicus. If so, related to Middle English lewe (“treacherous”), belewen (“to hand over, betray”).

Pronunciation

• (Early Middle English) IPA^(key): /ˈlɛːwɛdə/Category:Middle English terms with IPA pronunciation#LEWED
• IPA^(key): /ˈlɛu̯(i)d(ə)/Category:Middle English terms with IPA pronunciation#LEWED

Adjective

lewed (comparative lewder, superlative lewedeste)Category:Middle English lemmas#LEWEDCategory:Middle English adjectives#LEWEDCategory:Middle English entries with incorrect language header#LEWEDCategory:Pages with entries#LEWEDCategory:Pages with 2 entries#LEWED

1. Unrelated to the church; non-priestly; lay.
2. Unschooled, not learned or educated; lacking in knowledge.
   • c. 1378-9, [William Langland], “[Passus 12]”, in The Vision of Pierce Plowman [...] (Cr, B-text), London: […] Roberte Crowley, […], published 1550, →OCLC:

     Although men made bokes, God was the maister,
     And Seint Spirit the samplarie, and seide what men sholde write.
     And right as sight serveth a man to se the heighe strete,
     Right so lereth scripture lewed men to reason.

     Although men made books, God was the master,
     And the Holy Spirit the example, and said what men should write.
     And just as sight serves a man to see the high street,
     So unschooled men learn scripture to reason.

     Category:Middle English terms with quotations#LEWED

3. Simple-minded, dumb, or unintelligent; lacking in brainpower.
4. Unmannered, rude, or disrespectful.
5. Low-quality; crude, feeble; of meagre workmanship.
6. Lowborn or lowly; not of noble lineage.
7. Ordinary, unsophisticated or simple; typifying one of non-noble lineage.
8. (Late Middle English) Lewd, immoral, sinful, or malicious.

Noun

lewedCategory:Middle English lemmas#LEWEDCategory:Middle English nouns#LEWEDCategory:Middle English entries with incorrect language header#LEWEDCategory:Pages with entries#LEWEDCategory:Pages with 2 entries#LEWED

1. An ignorant or simple-minded individual.
2. Someone who is not involved in a clerical position.