Dictionary


hew



Pronunciation: (hyOO or, often, yOO), [key]
—v., hewed, hewed or hewn, hew•ing.

—v.t.
1. to strike forcibly with an ax, sword, or other cutting instrument; chop; hack.
2. to make, shape, smooth, etc., with cutting blows: to hew a passage through the crowd; to hew a statue from marble.
3. to sever (a part) from a whole by means of cutting blows (usually fol. by away, off, out, from, etc.): to hew branches from the tree.
4. to cut down; fell: to hew wood; trees hewed down by the storm.

—v.i.
1. to strike with cutting blows; cut: He hewed more vigorously each time.
2. to uphold, follow closely, or conform (usually fol. by to): to hew to the tenets of one's political party.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

Hevesyhewers of wood and drawers of water
See also:
  • hew (Thesaurus)

Related Content