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Webster 1913 Edition

Strew

Strew

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Strewed
;
p. p.
strewn
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Strewing
.]
[OE.
strewen
,
strawen
, AS.
strewian
,
streówian
; akin to Ofries.
strewa
, OS.
strewian
, D.
strooijen
, G.
streuen
, OHG.
strewen
, Icel.
strā
, Sw.
strö
, Dan.
ströe
, Goth.
straujan
, L.
sternere
,
stratum
, Gr. [GREEK], [GREEK], Skr.
st[GREEK]
. √166. Cf.
Stratum
,
Straw
,
Street
.]
1.
To scatter; to spread by scattering; to cast or to throw loosely apart; – used of solids, separated or separable into parts or particles;
as, to
strew
seed in beds; to
strew
sand on or over a floor; to
strew
flowers over a grave.
And
strewed
his mangled limbs about the field.
Dryden.
On a principal table a desk was open and many papers [were]
strewn
about.
Beaconsfield.
2.
To cover more or less thickly by scattering something over or upon; to cover, or lie upon, by having been scattered;
as, they
strewed
the ground with leaves; leaves
strewed
the ground.
The snow which does the top of Pindus
strew
.
Spenser.
Is thine alone the seed that
strews
the plain?
Pope.
3.
To spread abroad; to disseminate.
She may
strew
dangerous conjectures.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition

Strew

STREW

,
Verb.
T.
[This verb is written straw, strew, or strow; straw is nearly obsolete, and strow is obsolescent. Strew is generally used.]
1.
To scatter; to spread by scattering; always applied to dry substances separable into parts or particles; as, to strew seed in beds; to strew sand on or over a floor; to strew flowers over a grave.
2.
To spread by being scattered over.
The snow which does the top of Pindus strew.
Is thine alone the seed that strews the plain?
3.
To scatter loosely.
And strewd his mangled limbs about the field.

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