Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Hew
Hew
(hū)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp.
Hewed
(hūd)
; p. p.
Hewed
or Hewn
(hūn)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Hewing
.] 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 sepulcherLook 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. Shakespeare
Hew
,Noun.
Destruction by cutting down.
[Obs.]
Of whom he makes such havoc and such
hew
. Spenser.
Hew
,Noun.
1.
Hue; color.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
2.
Shape; form.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
Webster 1828 Edition
Hew
HEW
,Verb.
T.
1.
To cut with an ax, or other like instrument, for the purpose of making an even surface or side; as, to hew timber.2.
To chop; to cut; to hack; as, to hew in pieces.3.
To cut with a chisel; to make smooth; as, to hew stone. 4. To form or shape with an edged instrument; with out; as, to hew out a sepulcher. Is.22.
5.
To form laboriously. I now pass my days,not studious nor idle, rather polishing old works than hewing out new ones. [Unusual.]
To hew down, to cut down; to fell by cutting.
To hew off, to cut off; to separate by a cutting instrument.