Category:Hew

Hew, v. t. [imp. Hewed; p. p. Hewed or Hewn (p. pr. & vb. n. Hewing.] Etym: [AS. heáwan; akin to D. houwen, OHG. houwan, G. hauen, Icel. höggva, Sw. hugga, Dan. hugge, Lith. kova battle, Russ. kovate to hammer, forge. Cf. Hay cut grass, Hoe.]

1. To cut with an ax; to fell with a sharp instrument; -- often with down, or off. Shak.

2. To form or shape with a sharp instrument; to cut; hence, to form laboriously; -- often with out; as, to hew out a sepulcher. Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn. Is. li. 1. Rather polishing old works than hewing out new. Pope.

3. To cut in pieces; to chop; to hack. Hew them to pieces; hack their bones asunder. Shak.

hew Hew, n.

Defn: Destruction by cutting down. [Obs.] Of whom he makes such havoc and such hew. Spenser.

hew Hew, n.

1. Hue; color. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Shape; form. [Obs.] Spenser.