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Whew vs Thew - What's the difference?

whew | thew |

As verbs the difference between whew and thew

is that whew is to whistle with a shrill pipe, like a plover while thew is to oppress; enslave.

As an interjection whew

is an expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief.

As a noun thew is

a bondman; a slave.

As an adjective thew is

bond; servile.

whew

English

Interjection

(en interjection)
  • An expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief.
    • (from strenuous labour) Whew! That box weighs a ton!
    (from intense concern) Whew! Thank goodness you?re safe! I thought something terrible had happened to you!
    (from fear of being seen) Whew! That cop didn?t see me! That was a close call!
  • An expression of amazement or surprise.
  • * 1981 , , revised edition, chapter 1,
    • "...Now I must be off. Whew , it's as cold as the North Pole. Which way is the wind blowing?"

    Synonyms

    * (expressing relief of tension) fyew, phew, (chiefly UK) lumme * (expressing surprise) wow

    Related terms

    * whoa * wow

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (UK, Scotland, dialect) To whistle with a shrill pipe, like a plover.
    • English onomatopoeias

    thew

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), (m), from (etyl) . See (l), (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (lb) A bondman; a slave.

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (lb) Bond; servile.

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) thewen, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To oppress; enslave.

    • Etymology 3

    From (etyl) thew, theaw (often in plural thewes), from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Muscle or sinew.
  • * 1927 , , Arrow, 2008, page 247
    • As a rule, the Purple Chicken catered for the intelligentsia of the neighbourhood, and these did not run to thews and sinews. On most nights in the week you would find the tables occupied by wispy poets and slender futurist painters...
  • * 1960 , , Low-Lands
    • Fortune’s elf child and disinherited darling, young and randy and more a Jolly Jack Tar than anyone human could conceivably be; thews and chin taut against a sixty-knot gale with a well-broken-in briar clenched in the bright defiant teeth
  • A good quality or habit; virtue.
  • An attractive physical attribute, especially muscle; mental or moral vigour.
    • Quotations
    * 1602 : , act 1 scene 3 lines 11-12-13-14 *: For nature crescent does not grow alone *: In thews and bulks, but as this temple waxes, *: The inward service of the mind and soul *: Grows wide withal.
    Derived terms
    * thewless * thewness * thews * thewy

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • Instruct in morals or values; chastise.
    • Derived terms
    * thewed

    Anagrams

    * ----