thews

Noun

thew (plural thews)

1. (also, archaic, figuratively, in plural) An attractive physical attribute; also, physical, mental, or moral strength or vigour.
   • I felt the thews of Anakim, / The pulses of a Titan's heart.1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto CI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 157
2. (also, archaic, figuratively, in plural) An aspect of the body which indicates physical strength; hence, muscle and/or sinew; muscular development.
   • [C]are I for the limbe, the thevves, the ſtature, bulke and big aſſemblance of a man: giue me the ſpirit […]c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600...
3. (in plural, obsolete) A way of behaving; hence, a characteristic, a trait.
   • He with good thevves and ſpeaches vvell applyde, / Did mollifie, and calme her raging heat.1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 14, page 131
4. (in plural, obsolete, specifically) A good characteristic or habit; a virtue.
   • This poeticall licence is a ſhrewde fellow, and couereth many faults in a verſe, […] and to conclude it turkeneth all things at pleaſure, for example, ydone for done, adowne for downe, orecome for ouercome, tane for taken, power for powre, heauen for heavn, thewes for good partes or good qualities...[1575, George Gascoigne, Certayne Notes of Instruction. Concerning the Making of Verse or Ryme in English, […]; reprinted in Edward Arber, editor, 1. Certayne Notes of Instruction in English Verse....

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