I. ˈd(y)ü noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English dēaw; akin to Old High German tou dew, Old Norse dögg dew, Greek thein to run, Sanskrit dhavate it flows
1. : moisture condensed upon the surfaces of cool bodies especially at night
dew glistening in the early morning light
the dews of night
broadly : small deposits of water that are produced by condensation of water vapor in the free atmosphere, by condensation of vapor directly from the ground, or less often by exudation of water through the leaf pores of a plant particularly at night upon the surfaces of cool bodies and in calm weather under an unclouded sky and more rapidly upon surfaces freely radiating heat and that remain as fluid water or frost according to the temperature
2. : something felt to resemble dew as in purity, freshness, or power to refresh
the golden dew of sleep — Shakespeare
a lad in the dew of his youth
the dew of God's grace lay over them
3. : moisture especially when appearing in minute droplets: as
a. : tears
b. : sweat , perspiration
c. : a distilled liquor ; broadly : an alcoholic beverage — usually used with a qualifying term
d. : droplets of water produced by a plant in transpiration
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English dewen, from dew, n.
transitive verb
: to wet with or as if with dew : bedew
every sense in slumber dewing — Sir Walter Scott
especially : to apply a fine spray of water to (woolen or worsted cloth)
intransitive verb
archaic : to fall or form as dew
III.
past of daw