”Of the people”— a non clerical person?

The etymology of “lewd” can be traced back to the Old English word “lÇ£wede,” which originally meant “lay, unlearned, non-clerical.” This word was used to refer to those who were not members of the clergy. Over time, its meaning evolved. By the late Middle Ages, it had taken on a negative connotation, referring to the ignorant or uneducated. Eventually, it came to describe behavior that was considered base, vulgar, or ignorant. This shift in meaning reflects a common linguistic trend where words initially describing a lack of education or refinement acquire connotations of moral deficiency or indecency.