thew

noun

1. (also, archaic, figuratively, in-plural)An attractive physical attribute; also, physical, mental, or moral strength or vigour.

   “I felt the thews of Anakim, / The pulses of a Titan's heart.”

2. (also, archaic, figuratively, in-plural)An aspect of the body which indicates physical strength; hence, muscle and/or sinew; muscular development.

   “[C]are I for the limbe, the thevves, the ſtature, bulke and big aſſemblance of a man: giue me the ſpirit […]”

   “[…] Romans novv / Haue Thevves, and Limbes, like to their Anceſtors; / But vvoe the vvhile, our Fathers mindes are dead, / And vve are gouern'd vvith our Mothers ſpirits, / Our yoake, and ſufferance, ſhevv vs VVomaniſh.”

   “For nature creſſant does not grovve alone / In thevvs and bulkes, but as this temple vvaxes, / The invvard ſervice of the minde and ſoule / Grovves vvide vvithal, […]”

   “Would'ſt thou afford him to me for a guard / Or ſweeper of my ſtalls, or to ſupply / My kids with leaves, he ſhould on bulkier thewes / Supported ſtand, though nouriſh'd but with whey.”

   “[M]y fellow traveller, to judge by his thewes and sinews, was a man who might have set danger at defiance with as much impunity as most men. He was strong, and well-built; and, judging from his gold-laced hat and cockade, seemed to have served in the army, or, at least, to belong to the military profession in one capacity or other.”

3. (in-plural, obsolete)A way of behaving; hence, a characteristic, a trait.

   “He with good thevves and ſpeaches vvell applyde, / Did mollifie, and calme her raging heat.”

   “A man of proof / Was Urien in his day; thought worthiest, / In martial thewes and manly discipline, / To train the sons of Owen.”

4. (in-plural, obsolete, specifically)A good characteristic or habit; a virtue.

   “This poeticall licence is a ſhrewde fellow, and couereth many faults in a verſe, […] and to conclude it turkeneth all things at pleaſure, for example, ydone for done, adowne for downe, orecome for ouercome, tane for taken, power for powre, heauen for heavn, thewes for good partes or good qualities, and a numbre of whiche were but tedious and needleſſe to rehearſe, ſince your owne iudgement and readyng will ſoone make you eſpie ſuch aduantages.”

verb

1. (obsolete, transitive)To instruct (someone) in morals or values; also (more generally) to chastise or discipline (someone); to teach or train (someone).

name

1. A surname from Middle English.