Stew \Stew\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Stewing.]

[OE. stuven, OF. estuver, F. ['e]tuver, fr. OF. estuve, F. ['e]tuve, a sweating house, a room heated for a bath; probably of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. stove. See Stove, and cf. Stive to stew.]

To boil slowly, or with the simmering or moderate heat; to seethe; to cook in a little liquid, over a gentle fire, without boiling; as, to stew meat; to stew oysters; to stew apples.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)