Hew , n.
1. Hue; color. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
2. Shape; form. [Obs.] Spenser.
Hew , n. Destruction by cutting down.
[Obs.]
Of whom he makes such havoc and such hew.
Spenser.
Hew (hū), v. t. [imp. Hewed (hūd); p. p. Hewed or Hewn (hūn); p. pr. & vb. n.
Hewing.]
[AS. heáwan; akin to D.
houwen, OHG. houwan, G. hauen,
Icel. höggva, Sw. hugga, Dan. hugge, Lith.
kova battle, Russ.
kovate to hammer, forge. Cf. Hay cut grass, Hoe.] 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 sepulcher.
Look 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.
Shak.
Hear it pronounced