Dew
Pronunciation
- IPA: /djuË/
- IPA: /dÊ’uË/ (among those with Yod-coalescence in stressed syllables)
- US IPA: /du/ (among those with Yod-dropping)
- Homophones: due, do, doo US, some dialects
Origin
From Middle English, from Old English dÄ“aw ("dew"), from Proto-Germanic *dawwaz, *dawwÄ… ("dew, moisture"), from Proto-Indo-European *dÊ°ew- ("to run, flow"). Cognate with West Frisian dau, North Frisian dauw ("dew"), Dutch dauw ("dew"), Low German Dau, German Tau ("dew"), Danish dug ("dew"), Swedish dagg ("dew"), Icelandic dögg ("dew") and Faroese døgg ("dew"), Ancient Greek θÎω (théÅ, "run", verb.), Persian دویدن (davidan, "run", verb.), Albanian dejë ("spot where the snow thaws"), Sanskrit धावति (dhÄvati, "run, flow, move").
Full definition of dew
Noun
dew
(countable and uncountable; plural dews)- (uncountable) moisture in the air that settles on plants, etc in the morning, resulting in drops.
- (countable, but see usage notes) an instance of a such moisture settling on plants, etc.There was a heavy dew this morning.
- (uncountable) Any moisture from the atmosphere condensed by cool bodies upon their surfaces.
- (figurative) Anything that falls lightly and in a refreshing manner.
- ShakespeareThe golden dew of sleep.
- An emblem of morning, or fresh vigour.
- LongfellowThe dew of his youth.
Usage notes
Although the countable sense is still used, the plural form is now archaic or poetic only.
Synonyms
- (moisture settling on plants) rore obsolete