Hew

Hew is a verb that means to conform or adhere to. Derived from the Latin word cudere (coo DARE ay) which means ‘to beat,’ our word of the day was originally used to mean ‘chop’ or ‘cut.’ By the 18th century, the phrase ‘hew the line’ had gained popularity. It referred to cutting a line along a log until it became squared. With this phrase, hew took on a new meaning. Today it is more commonly used to means ‘conform or adhere to.’ With Debra’s help, I was able to hew to the standards of the job. She taught me exactly how to conform to the rules that were expected of me.