sew

verb

1. 1

   To use a needle to pass thread repeatedly through (pieces of fabric) in order to join them together.

   I sewed a button on.

   Balls were first made of grass or leaves held together by strings, and later of pieces of animal skin sewn together and stuffed with feathers or hay.

   She [Kate Spade] took the label, which originally had been on the inside of the bag, and sewed it to the outside.

2. 2

   To use a needle to pass thread repeatedly through pieces of fabric in order to join them together.

3. 3

   Followed by into: to enclose by sewing.

   to sew money into a bag

verb

1. 1

   obsoleteTo drain the water from.

   Now geld with the gelder the ram and the bul, / sew ponds, amend dammes, and sel webster thy wul

   […] accommodated a sluce to clense and sew the Pond, with a grate of wood to let out the wast, as in other stews and Vivaries.

   If the Bank of a Pond sews, it will preserve the Fish in Frost; the Reason, as I imagine, is, because where the Water sews out, the Air will bubble in, which relieves the Fish; or perhaps it might put the Water into some Degree of Motion.

2. 2

   Of a ship, to be grounded.

   The upward reaction of the keel blocks may be considered as a negative weight in a moment calculation, producing a decrease in the ship's stability, and it is most important that the vessel remains stable until she takes the blocks along the full length of her keel, i.e. when she is sewed, for until this moment the side shores cannot be successfully rigged.

   A ship resting upon the ground, where the water has fallen, so as to afford no hope of floating until lightened, or the return tide floats her, is said to be sewed, by as much as the difference between the surface of the water, and the ship's floating-mark.

noun

1. 1

   obsoleteBroth, gravy.

   And than as for other Potages, ſtued Trypys, yt is dight redy. And than for to make the Numbleis in ſewe[…]

   At Ewle we wonten gambole, daunce, to carrole, and to ſing, To haue gud ſpiced Sewe, and Roſte, and plum-pies for a King[…]

   If a thicke grewell or ſew be made thereof, together with floure, oile, and vinegre, ſo tempered as it may be ſupped[…]

Forms

plural

sews

past tense

sewed

past participle

sewn, sewed, sewen

present participle

sewing

third person singular

sews