Obs. [attrib. use of the sb.] Lecherous; also in wider sense, base, vile.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 776. God sente on him sekenesse & care, And lettede al his lecher-fare. Ibid., 1064. Al ðat burȝt folc ðat helde was on, Ðe miȝte lecher crafte don.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 28528. Lechur sanges haf i wroght.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13037. Thus the lady was lost for hir lechir dedis.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, 511. Some … disgrace alight on his lawfull wife or on his lechard mistris.
Hence † Lecherhed [see -HEAD], lechery; † Lercherlike, -ly advs., lecherously; † Lecherness, lechery.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 770. Ðat folc luuede lecherlike. Ibid., 1997. He wulde don is lechur-hed wið ioseph, for hise fairehed.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8059. The tothur lurkes in lychernes, & laghes ouerthwert. Ibid., 12604. Þan Vlixes the lord, licherly þai saide, Preset [etc.].
c. 1511. 1st Eng. Bk. Amer. (Arb.), Introd. 27. The wymen be very hoote & dyposed to lecherdnes.
