What does "lewis" mean?
A cramp iron inserted into a cavity in order to lift heavy stones; used as a symbol of strength in Freemasonry.
Lewis
/ˈluːɪs/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A cramp iron inserted into a cavity in order to lift heavy stones; used as a symbol of strength in Freemasonry.
- Grammar: lewis is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: family name, forename, gun, island.
- Useful contrasts: anonymous, continent, forename.
- Usage evidence: Lewis and Clark kept very careful records.
How to use "lewis"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "lewis" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "lewis" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "lewis" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "lewis" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "lewis" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "family name" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "lewis", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A cramp iron inserted into a cavity in order to lift heavy stones; used as a symbol of strength in Freemasonry.
- 2 The son of a Freemason, envisaged as assisting his father in heavy work or in old age. broadly, figuratively
- 3 A kind of shears used in cropping woollen cloth.
"After the preeming period, the lads are put either to the gig-machines, or to the lewises in the cutting or shearing-room."
Proper Noun
- 1 A male given name from Frankish. countable, uncountable
"And tell false Edward, thy supposed king, That Lewis of France is sending over masquers, To revel it with him and his new bride."
- 2 A surname from Irish [in turn originating as a patronymic].
- 3 A surname from Welsh [in turn originating as a patronymic].
- 4 Ellipsis of the Isle of Lewis: an island of Scotland, United Kingdom. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
- 5 An English surname originating as a patronymic. countable, uncountable
"The first line of dialogue is from an off-screen Field Commander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain), asking the team to stay in sight and “make NASA proud”."
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 The title given to a partially apprenticed Freemason who is normally the Master or Son of a practicing Freemason; one practising or learning the degrees of Freemasonry after introduction to the degrees and before full induction or before becoming a Worshipful Brother. countable, uncountable
- 7 A locale in the United States:; A census-designated place in Montezuma County, Colorado. countable, uncountable
- 8 A locale in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Vigo County, Indiana. countable, uncountable
- 9 A locale in the United States:; A minor city in Cass County, Iowa. countable, uncountable
- 10 A locale in the United States:; A minor city in Edwards County, Kansas; named for journalist M. M. Lewis. countable, uncountable
"It’s a bit of a surprise to be driving through farmlands near Lewis, Kansas, and suddenly spot a series of tall chalk towers on the horizon."
- 11 A locale in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Henry County, Missouri; named for landowner Howell Lewis. countable, uncountable
- 12 A locale in the United States:; A town in Essex County, New York; named for Morgan Lewis, 3rd Governor of New York. countable, uncountable
- 13 A locale in the United States:; A town in Lewis County, New York; named for its county, itself for Morgan Lewis. countable, uncountable
- 14 A locale in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Granville County, North Carolina. countable, uncountable
- 15 A locale in the United States:; A town in Essex County, Vermont; named for landowners Nathan, Sevignior and Timothy Lewis. countable, uncountable
- 16 A locale in the United States:; A census-designated place in Clam Falls, Polk County, Wisconsin; named for founder Charles E. Lewis. countable, uncountable
- 17 A locale in the United States:; A ghost town in California. countable, uncountable
- 18 A locale in the United States:; A number of townships, listed under Lewis Township. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Lewis and Clark kept very careful records."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "lewis"?
Common synonyms include: family name, forename, gun, island, isle, last name.
How do you use "lewis" in a sentence?
Lewis and Clark kept very careful records.
How do you pronounce "lewis"?
Pronounced /ˈluːɪs/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English Lewis, Lowis, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French Louis, from Frankish *Hlūdawīg. Doublet of Louis.
Etymology 2
An anglicization of Irish Lobhaois, itself from Old French Louis.
Etymology 3
An adopted anglicization of Welsh Llywelyn, from Old Welsh, from Proto-Brythonic *Lluɣβelen, from Proto-Celtic *Lugus + *Belinos, whose origin is disputed; see Belenus.
Etymology 4
Derived from Scottish Gaelic Leòdhas, of uncertain origin; traditionally referred to Old Norse Ljóðahús, from ljóð (“song, poem”) + hús (“house”); but may be related to the Pictish name of the island recorded in Ptolemy's Geography as Λίμνου (Límnou).
Etymology 5
From Middle English lewis, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old French lous, plural of lou, loup (“the name of a kind of siege engine”, literally “wolf”); or related to clevis.