renew

English Online Dictionary. What means renew‎? What does renew mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English renewen, an alteration (possibly on analogy with Latin renovāre) of earlier anewen (“to renew”), from Old English nīewian (“to restore; renovate; renew”), equivalent to re- +‎ new. Cognate with Old High German giniuwōn (“to renew”), Middle High German geniuwen (“to renew”), Old Norse nýja (“to renew”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈnjuː/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ɹəˈnjuː/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈnu/
• Rhymes: -uː
• Hyphenation: re‧new

Verb

renew (third-person singular simple present renews, present participle renewing, simple past and past participle renewed)

1. (transitive) To make (something) new again; to restore to freshness or original condition. [from 14^thc.]
2. (transitive) To replace (something which has broken etc.); to replenish (something which has been exhausted), to keep up a required supply of. [from 14^thc.]
3. (theology) To make new spiritually; to regenerate. [from 14^thc.]
4. (now rare, intransitive) To become new, or as new; to revive. [15^th–18^thc.]
   • , II.2.6.ii:

     […] to such as are in fear they strike a great impression, renew many times, and recal such chimeras and terrible fictions into their minds.

   • 2010 September, Michael Allen, "St. Louis Preservation Fund", St. Louis magazine, ISSN 1090-5723, Vol.16, Is.9, p.74:

     Renewing neighborhoods dealing with vacant buildings badly need options other than demolition or dangerous vacant spaces.

5. (transitive) To begin again; to recommence. [from 16^thc.]

   This murder has been a cold case for decades until last year when the new sheriff renewed the investigation.

   • 1660, John Dryden, translating Virgil, (apparently from Eclogue 4), a snippet of translation used to introduce Dryden's Astræa Redux: A poem on the happy restoration and return of His Sacred Majesty Charles II

     The last great age, foretold by sacred rhymes,
     Renews its finished course; Saturnian times
     Roll round again.
6. (rare) To repeat. [from 17^thc.]
7. (transitive, intransitive) To extend a period of loan, especially a library book that is due to be returned.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:repair

Derived terms

• renew acquaintances

Related terms

• renewal
• urban-renew

Translations

Noun

renew (plural renews)

1. Synonym of renewal

Derived terms

• urban renew

Anagrams

• newer, weren