renew
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ɹɪˈnjuː/
ipa: /ɹəˈnjuː/
ipa: /ɹɪˈnu/
rhymes: -uː
Forms: form: renews
form: renewing
form: renewed
form: renewed
Etymology: 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”).
Senses: examples: text: In such a night
 Medea gather’d the enchanted herbs
 That did renew old Æson.
ref: 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]:
glosses: To make (something) new again; to restore to freshness or original condition.
glosses: To replace (something which has broken etc.); to replenish (something which has been exhausted), to keep up a required supply of.
examples: text: 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.
ref: 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Romans xij:[2]:
text: For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 4:16:
topics: lifestyle
religion
theology
glosses: To make new spiritually; to regenerate.
examples: text: […] to such as are in fear they strike a great impression, renew many times, and recal such chimeras and terrible fictions into their minds.
ref: , II.2.6.ii
text: 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?
ref: 1997 July, “Seeking Christian interiority: An interview with Louis Dupre”, in Christian Century, volume 114, number 21, page 654:
text: Renewing neighborhoods dealing with vacant buildings badly need options other than demolition or dangerous vacant spaces.
ref: 2010 September, Michael Allen, "St. Louis Preservation Fund", St. Louis magazine, ISSN 1090-5723, Vol.16, Is.9, p.74
glosses: To become new, or as new; to revive.
examples: text: This murder has been a cold case for decades until last year when the new sheriff renewed the investigation.
text: Then gan he all this storie to renew,
And tell the course of his captivitie […]
ref: 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
text: 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.
text: “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.
ref: 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
glosses: To begin again; to recommence.
examples: text: The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds
Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
glosses: To repeat.
examples: text: I'd like to renew these three books.  Did you know that you can renew online?
glosses: To extend a period of loan, especially a library book that is due to be returned.
Derived terms: renew acquaintances
renewal
renewing
renew one's vows
self-renewing
Related terms: renewal
urban-renew