Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

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.