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hew
[ hyoo or, often, yoo ]
/ hyu or, often, yu /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
Definition of hew
verb (used with object), hewed, hewed or hewn, hew·ing.
to strike forcibly with an ax, sword, or other cutting instrument; chop; hack.
to make, shape, smooth, etc., with cutting blows: to hew a passage through the crowd; to hew a statue from marble.
to sever (a part) from a whole by means of cutting blows (usually followed by away, off, out, from, etc.): to hew branches from the tree.
to cut down; fell: to hew wood; trees hewed down by the storm.
verb (used without object), hewed, hewed or hewn, hew·ing.
to strike with cutting blows; cut: He hewed more vigorously each time.
to uphold, follow closely, or conform (usually followed by to): to hew to the tenets of one's political party.
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Origin of hew
First recorded before 900; Middle English hewen, Old English hēawan; cognate with German hauen, Old Norse hǫggva; akin to haggle
synonym study for hew
1. See cut.
OTHER WORDS FROM hew
hew·a·ble, adjectivehewer, nounun·hew·a·ble, adjectiveun·hewed, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH hew
hew , hueWords nearby hew
Other definitions for hew (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use hew in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for hew (1 of 2)
hew
/ (hjuː) /
verb hews, hewing, hewed, hewed or hewn (hjuːn)
to strike (something, esp wood) with cutting blows, as with an axe
(tr often foll by out) to shape or carve from a substance
(tr; often foll by away, down, from, off, etc) to sever from a larger or another portion
(intr often foll by to) US and Canadian to conform (to a code, principle, etc)
Derived forms of hew
hewer, nounWord Origin for hew
Old English hēawan; related to Old Norse heggva, Old Saxon hāwa, Old High German houwan, Latin cūdere to beat
British Dictionary definitions for hew (2 of 2)
HEW
abbreviation for (in the US)
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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