THEW

Etymology 1

Noun

thew (plural thews)

(obsolete) A bondman; a slave.

Adjective

thew (comparative more thew, superlative most thew)

(obsolete) Bond; servile.

Etymology 2

Verb

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

(transitive, obsolete) To oppress; enslave.

Etymology 3

Noun

thew (plural thews)

Muscle or sinew.

A good quality or habit; virtue.

(usually plural) An attractive physical attribute, especially muscle; mental or moral vigour.

Verb

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

Instruct in morals or values; chastise.

Anagrams

• whet

Source: Wiktionary

Thew, n.

Note: [Chiefly used in the plural Thews (.] Etym: [OE. thew, , manner, habit, strength, AS. manner, habit (cf. to drive); akin to OS. thau custom, habit, OHG. dou. *56.]

1. Manner; custom; habit; form of behavior; qualities of mind; disposition; specifically, good qualities; virtues. [Obs.] For her great light Of sapience, and for her thews clear. Chaucer. Evil speeches destroy good thews. Wyclif (1 Cor. xv. 33). To be upbrought in gentle thews and martial might. Spenser.

2. Muscle or strength; nerve; brawn; sinew. Shak. And I myself, who sat apart And watched them, waxed in every limb; I felt the thews of Anakim, The pules of a Titan's heart. Tennyson.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition