Citations:thew

English citations of thew

Etymology 1

The adjective is derived from Middle English theu, thewe (“in a state of slavery or serfdom, not free; (figuratively) under the influence of evil, sin, etc.”) [and other forms], from:

• from an attributive use of theu, thewe (noun) (see above); or
• from Old English þēow (“servile”), from þēow (noun) (see above).

Adjective

thew (comparative more thew, superlative most thew)

1. (obsolete) Bond; servile.

   According to the OED, this sense did not survive out of Middle English into modern English. Thus, a separate Middle English entry should be created.

Etymology 2

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”).

[See “theuen, v.(2)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.]

Verb

thew (third-person singular simple present thews, present participle thewing, simple past and past participle thewed)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To oppress (someone).

   According to the OED, this sense did not survive out of Middle English into modern English. Thus, a separate Middle English entry should be created.

Etymology 3

[See “theuien, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007; “† theow | thew, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, December 2020.]

Verb

thew (third-person singular simple present thews, present participle thewing, simple past and past participle thewed)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To act as a serf or slave to (someone); to minister, to serve.

   According to the OED, this sense did not survive out of Middle English into modern English. Thus, a separate Middle English entry should be created.