dew

Meanings

Noun

• Any moisture from the atmosphere condensed by cool bodies upon their surfaces.
• Moisture in the air that settles on plants, etc in the morning, resulting in drops.
• An instance of such moisture settling on plants, etc.
• Anything that falls lightly and in a refreshing manner.
• An emblem of morning, or fresh vigour.

Verb

• To wet with, or as if with, dew; to moisten.

Origin

• From Middle English dew, from Old English dēaw ("dew"), from Proto-Germanic *dawwaz, *dawwą, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- ("smoke, haze"). Cognate with German Tau, Dutch dauw and Afrikaans dou. dag.
• From Middle English dewe, dewyn, from Old English *dēawian, from Proto-West Germanic *dauwēn, from Proto-Germanic *dawwāną. Cognates include Saterland Frisian daue, German tauen and Dutch dauwen.