CHEW

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English cēowan; akin to Old High German kiuwan to ~, Russian zhevat' Date: before 12th century transitive verb to crush, grind, or gnaw (as food) with or as if with the teeth ; masticate , to injure, destroy, or consume as if by ~ing, intransitive verb to ~ something, ~able adjective ~er noun ~y adjective II. noun Date: 13th century the act of ~ing, something for ~ing