verb

hew

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Hew (verb) means to cut something down or reduce it using a sharp tool, such as an axe.

verb

To cut something down or reduce it using a sharp tool, such as an axe.

To give something a particular shape by cutting it.

"In 1974, I spoke of poetry as “hewn from the commonest living substance” as a doorframe is hewn of wood." — Adrienne Rich, Hewn from the living words (2003)

"Constructed by a firm named Posiva, Onkalo has been hewn into the island of Olkiluoto, a brief bridge’s length off Finland’s south-west coast." — Samanth Subramanian, Dismantling Sellafield: the epic task of shutting down a nuclear site (2022)

To follow or stick closely to a rule, plan or belief.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Etymology

Came into English via Middle English hewen, which developed from Old English hēawan, from Proto-West Germanic *hauwan, from Proto-Germanic *hawwaną, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kewh₂- (“to strike, hew, forge”). It is cognate with West Frisian houwe (“to hew”), Cimbrian hauan (“to dig”), Dutch houwen (“to hew”), German hauen (“to hew”), Luxembourgish haen (“to chop”), Danish hugge (“to hew”), Faroese høgga (“to hew”), Icelandic höggva (“to hew”), Norwegian Bokmål hogge, hugge (“to hew”), Norwegian Nynorsk hogga (“to hew”), and Swedish hugga (“to hew”). Sense 3 comes from the phrase hew to the line, literally “cut evenly with an axe or saw”.

Rhymes for hew

chew phew whew

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of hew?

"hew" (verb) means to cut something down or reduce it using a sharp tool, such as an axe.

What are the different meanings of hew?

"hew" has 3 main meanings: 1. To cut something down or reduce it using a sharp tool, such as an axe; 2. To give something a particular shape by cutting it; 3. To follow or stick closely to a rule, plan or belief.