lewd

[ lood ]

adjective

, lewd·er, lewd·est.

1. inclined to, characterized by, or inciting to lust or lechery; lascivious.
2. obscene or indecent, as language or songs; salacious.
3. Obsolete.
   1. low, ignorant, or vulgar.
   2. base, vile, or wicked, especially of a person.
   3. bad, worthless, or poor, especially of a thing.

lewd

/ luːd /

adjective

1. characterized by or intended to excite crude sexual desire; obscene
2. obsolete.
   1. wicked
   2. ignorant

Derived Forms

• ˈlewdness, noun
• ˈlewdly, adverb

Other Words From

• lewd·ly adverb
• lewd·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lewd¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English leud, lewed, Old English lǣwede “lay, unlearned”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lewd¹

C14: from Old English lǣwde lay, ignorant; see lay ³

Example Sentences

Paige McQuay was arrested on suspicion of attempting to contact a minor to commit an unlawful offense and attempting lewd acts with a minor, according to Roseville police.

From Los Angeles Times

Colleen Jo Matarico, 43, was arrested last week and charged with seven counts of committing lewd acts on a boy she met when he was 12, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times

A jury found Davis guilty of 10 felony counts, including attempting a lewd act on a child.

From Los Angeles Times

Olguin previously pleaded guilty to lewd acts on a child, false imprisonment and injuring a child, while his wife, Rosa, and adult daughter, Lennys, pleaded guilty to child cruelty.

From Los Angeles Times

He pleaded not guilty Monday to one felony count of a lewd act on a child and one felony count of furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bawdy
• coarse
• erotic
• lascivious
• naughty
• obscene
• off-color
• pornographic
• racy
• ribald
• salacious
• suggestive
• vile