HEW

hew. Hew, v.t. hewed, pret. hewed, hewn, pa. to cut off chips and pieces, peck, hack, chop, fell, labor

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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. 1. To cut with an ax; to fell with a sharp instrument; — often with down, or off. Shak.
2. 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. 3. To cut in pieces; to chop; to hack.
Hew them to pieces; hack their bones asunder. Shak.