renew
English edit
Etymology edit
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 edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɹɪˈnjuː/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ɹɪˈnu/
Audio (GA) (file)
- Rhymes: -uː
- Hyphenation: re‧new
Verb edit
renew (third-person singular simple present renews, present participle renewing, simple past and past participle renewed)
- (transitive) To make (something) new again; to restore to freshness or original condition. [from 14thc.]
- c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
- In such a night
Medea gather’d the enchanted herbs
That did renew old Æson.
- (transitive) To replace (something which has broken etc.); to replenish (something which has been exhausted), to keep up a required supply of. [from 14thc.]
- (theology) To make new spiritually; to regenerate. [from 14thc.]
- 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Romans xij:[2]:
- And fassion not youre selves lyke vnto this worlde: But be ye chaunged in youre shape by the renuynge of youre wittes that ye maye fele what thynge that good yt acceptable and perfaycte will of god is.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 4:16:
- For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
- (now rare, intransitive) To become new, or as new; to revive. [15th–18thc.]
- 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:, 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.
- 1997 July, “Seeking Christian interiority: An interview with Louis Dupre”, in Christian Century, volume 114, number 21, page 654:
- But Christianity was a new religious force in Augustine's day. Today, as you say, its power to integrate culture has all but disappeared. Does Christianity still have the capacity to renew?
- 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.
- (transitive) To begin again; to recommence. [from 16thc.]
- 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
- Then gan he all this storie to renew,
And tell the course of his captivitie […]
- 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.
- The last great age, foretold by sacred rhymes,
- 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
- “A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron; […].
Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache.
- (rare) To repeat. [from 17thc.]
- 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
- The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds
Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.
- (transitive, intransitive) To extend a period of loan, especially a library book that is due to be returned.
- I'd like to renew these three books. Did you know that you can renew online?
Synonyms edit
- See also Thesaurus:repair
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
to make new again
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to substitute for a new one of the same nature
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to begin again; to recommence
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to repeat; to go over again
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to make new spiritually; to regenerate
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to become new, or as new
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to extend a period of loan
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Noun edit
renew (plural renews)
- Synonym of renewal