How 'lewd' changed from 'not a priest' to 'indecent'
In short
'Lewd' comes from Old English læwede, meaning lay or not of the clergy, probably related to 'lay'. By the early thirteenth century it meant unlearned, and by the late fourteenth century coarse or lustful. English law later adopted the moral sense: Blackstone's Commentaries list 'open and notorious lewdness' among offences against God and religion.
What the full article will cover
- What did 'lewd' mean in Old English?
- How did the meaning shift from 'unlearned' to 'lustful'?
- How did English law use 'lewdness'?
- Which related words changed in the same way?
- What does 'lewd' mean in British English today?
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'lewd' related to 'lay'?
- What was 'open and notorious lewdness'?
- Is 'lewd behaviour' a legal term in the UK today?
- Did Chaucer use 'lewd' in the old sense?
Sources
- etymonline.com — https://www.etymonline.com/word/lewd
- avalon.law.yale.edu — https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/blackstone_bk4ch4.asp
General information, not legal or religious advice.