Hew, n. 1. Hue;
color. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Shape; form. [Obs.]
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.Hew, n. Destruction by cutting
down. [Obs.]
Of whom he makes such havoc and such
hew.
Spenser.