Thew

Pronunciation

• IPA: /θjuː/

From Middle English thew, theow, from Old English þēow, þēo ("servant, slave"), from Proto-Germanic *þewaz, *þegwaz ("servant"), from Proto-Indo-European *tekwos ("runner"), from Proto-Indo-European *tekw- ("to run, flow"). Cognate with Old High German diu ("servant"), Gothic (þius, "bondman, slave, servant"), Dutch dienen ("to serve"), German dienen ("to serve"), Old English þegn ("servant, minister, vassal"). See thegn, thane.

Full definition of thew

Noun

1. (obsolete) A bondman; a slave.

From Middle English thew, from Old English þēow ("servile, not free, bond"), from Proto-Germanic *þewaz, *þegwaz ("subject, servile"), from Proto-Indo-European *tekwos ("runner"), from Proto-Indo-European *tekw- ("to run, flow"). Cognate with Old High German dio ("unfree").

Adjective

1. (obsolete) Bond; servile.

From Middle English thewen, from Old English þēowan, þȳwan ("to press, impress, force, press on, urge on, drive, press with a weapon, thrust, pierce, stab, threaten, rebuke, subjugate, crush, push, oppress, check"), from Proto-Germanic *þewjaną ("to enslave, oppress"), from Proto-Indo-European *tekw- ("to run, flow"). Cognate with Middle Dutch douwen, Middle Low German duwen, Middle High German diuhen, dūhen, diuwen ("to oppress").

Verb

1. (transitive, obsolete) To oppress; enslave.

From Middle English thew, theaw (often in plural thewes), from Old English þēaw ("usage, custom, general practise of a community, mode of conduct, manner, practise, way, behaviour"), from Proto-Germanic *þawwaz ("custom, habit"), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tāu-, *(s)te- ("to stand, place"). Cognate with Old Frisian thāw, Old Saxon thau ("custom"), Old High German *gathau, kathau ("discipline").

Noun

1. Muscle or sinew.
2. A good quality or habit; virtue.
3. An attractive physical attribute, especially muscle; mental or moral vigour.

Derived terms

• thewless
• thewness
• thews
• thewy

Verb

1. Instruct in morals or values; chastise.

Derived terms

• thewed

Anagrams

• whet