thew

Meanings

1. An attractive physical attribute; also, physical, mental, or moral strength or vigour.
2. An aspect of the body which indicates physical strength; hence, muscle and/or sinew; muscular development.
3. A way of behaving; hence, a characteristic, a trait.
4. A good characteristic or habit; a virtue.

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

1. A surname from Middle English.

Etymology

From Middle English theu, thew (“way of behaving towards others, bearing, manners; habit, practice; good manners, courtesy; characteristic act; characteristic, trait; custom, tradition; established rule, ordinance; injunction; moral character; (in the plural) set of moral principles, morals; moral quality, virtue or vice; might, power, strength”) [and other forms] (often in the plural form theus, thewes), from Old English þēaw (“general practice of a community, custom, usage; mode of conduct, behaviour, manner; (in the plural) customs, virtue”) [and other forms], from Proto-West Germanic *þauw, from Proto-Germanic *þawwaz (“custom; habit”); further etymology uncertain, tentatively identified by the Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Althochdeutschen (Etymological Dictionary of Old High German) as a reflex of an s-less variant of Proto-Indo-European *(s)tāu-, *(s)te- (“to stand; to place”), from *steh₂- (“to stand (up)”). Cognates * Old Frisian thāw * Old High German dau, thau (“coercion; discipline; tuition”) * Old Saxon thau (“custom, usage; habit”)