sew 1
— sewable , adj. , n.
/soh/ , v. , sewed, sewn or sewed, sewing .
v.t.
1. to join or attach by stitches.
2. to make, repair, etc., (a garment) by such means.
3. to enclose or secure with stitches: to sew flour in a bag.
4. to close (a hole, wound, etc.) by means of stitches (usually fol. by up ).
v.i.
5. to work with a needle and thread or with a sewing machine.
6. sew up ,
a. Informal. to get or have a monopoly of; control exclusively.
b. Informal. to complete or conclude (arrangements, negotiations, etc.) successfully: They were about to sew up the deal when the argument started.
c. to gain or be assured of: He tried to sew up as many votes as possible before the convention.
[ bef. 900; ME sewen, OE siw ( i ) an; c. OHG siuwan, Goth siujan, L suere (see SUTURE); akin to SEAM ]
sew 2
/sooh/ , v. , sewed, sewing , n. Naut.
v.t.
1. to ground (a vessel) at low tide (sometimes fol by up ).
v.i.
2. (of a vessel) to be grounded at low tide.
n.
3. the amount of additional water necessary to float a grounded vessel.
[ 1505-15; sewer, aph. var. of essewer exaquare, equiv. to L ex- EX- 1 + aqu ( a ) water + -are inf. suffix ]