Hew \Hew\ (h[=u]), v. t. [imp. Hewed (h[=u]d); p. p. Hewed or Hewn (h[=u]n); p. pr. & vb. n. Hewing.]

[AS. he['a]wan; akin to D. houwen, OHG. houwan, G. hauen, Icel. h["o]ggva, 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. [1913 Webster]

2. To form or shape with a sharp instrument; to cut; hence, to form laboriously; -- often with out; as, to hew out a sepulcher. [1913 Webster]

Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn. --Is. li. 1. [1913 Webster]

Rather polishing old works than hewing out new. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

3. To cut in pieces; to chop; to hack. [1913 Webster]

Hew them to pieces; hack their bones asunder. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Hew \Hew\, v. t. [imp. Hewed; p. p. Hewed or Hewn; p. pr. & vb. n. Hewing.]

[AS. he['a]wan; akin to D. houwen, OHG. houwan, G. hauen, Icel. h["o]ggva, 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)