Middle English
- (Early ME) læwedd mann, læwæde mon, leawde mon, lewede mæn
- lewede man, lewidman, lewide man, lewid man, lewd man, lewde-man, lewde man, lewyd man, lowed man
Etymology
From lewed + mon.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈlɛu̯(i)d(ə) ˌman/, /ˈlɛu̯(i)d(ə) ˌmɔn/
Noun
lewed man (plural lewed men)
- Somebody who is not a cleric; a member of the laity.
- An unlearned individual; one without knowledge.
- A lay person; an unqualified or untrained individual.
- (rare) An individual who is careless; an excessive risk-taker.
- (rare) A miscreant or villain.
References