# Lewes

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /ˈluː.ɪs/ · frequency rank #34,958

## Definitions
1. A surname.
2. A placename:
3. A placename:
4. A placename:
5. A placename:

## Etymology
From Middle English Lewes, from late Old English Lewes, a variant of earlier Lǣwe, of uncertain origin. Traditionally derived from Old English hlǣw (“hill”), referring to the several mounts in Lewes. Alternatively, perhaps derived from Old English lǣw (“cut, incision, gash”), referring to the narrow, steep-sided 'gash' where the River Ouse cuts through the line of the South Downs.

## Easily confused with
- **lies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lies)
- **lowe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lowe)
- **lives** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lives)
- **lower** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lower)
- **lines** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lines)
- **likes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-likes)
- **loves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-loves)
- **Lewis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lewis)
- **Lexus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lexus)
- **lifes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lifes)
- **limes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-limes)
- **Lewin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lewin)
- **lopes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lopes)
- **lowest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lowest)
- **Lowers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lewes-vs-lowers)
- **lee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lee-vs-lewes)
- **les** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/les-vs-lewes)
- **Lew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lew-vs-lewes)
- **less** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/less-vs-lewes)
- **laws** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/laws-vs-lewes)

## Common misspellings (7)
`elwes`, `leews`, `lewess`, `lewse`, `lewwes`, `llewes`, `lwees`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lewes