STEW

v. & n. --v. 1 tr. & intr. cook by long simmering in a closed vessel with liquid. 2 intr. colloq. be oppressed by heat or humidity, esp. in a confined space. 3 intr. colloq. a suffer prolonged embarrassment, anxiety, etc. b (foll. by over) fret or be anxious. 4 tr. make (tea) bitter or strong with prolonged brewing. 5 tr. (as stewed adj.) colloq. drunk. 6 intr. (often foll. by over) colloq. study hard. --n. 1 a dish of stewed meat etc. 2 colloq. an agitated or angry state (be in a stew). 3 archaic a a hot bath. b (in pl.) a brothel. østew in one's own juice be left to suffer the consequences of one's own actions. [ME f. OF estuve, estuver prob. ult. f. EX-(1) + Gk tuphos smoke, steam]