Word: thaw Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The verb is derived from Middle English thawen, thowen (“to melt (ice, snow, etc.), thaw”), from Old English þāwian, *þāwan (“to thaw”), from Proto-West Germanic *þauwjan (“to melt, thaw; to digest; to dissolve”), from Proto-Germanic *þawjaną (“to thaw”), from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂- (“to melt; to flow, stream”). The noun is derived from Late Middle English thawe, thowe (“melting of ice, snow, etc., thawing”), from thawen, thowen (verb) (see above). cognates * Dutch dooien (“to thaw”) * German tauen (“to thaw”) * German Low German deien (“to thaw”) * Icelandic þeyja (“to thaw”) * Saterland Frisian daie, dauje (“to thaw”) * Swedish töa (“to thaw”) * West Frisian teie (“to thaw”) Pronunciation: /θɔː/, /θoː/, /θɔ/, /θɑ/, /θɒ/ 1. To gradually cause (something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow) to melt or soften by raising the temperature. Labels: transitive Example: Sette the potte to the fyre to thawe the water: […] Example: Miſlike me not for my complexion, / The ſhadovved liuery of the burniſht ſunne, / To vvhom I am a neighbour,and neere bred. / Bring me the faireſt creature North-vvard borne, / VVhere Phœbus fire ſcarce thawes the yſicles, / And let vs make inciſion for your loue, / To proue vvhoſe blood is reddeſt, his or mine. 2. To gradually cause (someone or something that is very cold) to warm up. Labels: transitive Example: [M]y very lippes might freeze to my teeth, my tongue to the roofe of my mouth, my heart in my belly, ere I ſhould come by a fire to thavv me, […] Example: I led him ben but any pingle, / And beekt him bravvly at my ingle; / Dighted his face, his handies thovv'd, / 'Til his young cheeks, like roſes, glovv'd. 3. To cause (something inactive) to become active; also, to cause (something unfeeling) to have feelings. Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: [N]ovv my loue is thavv'd, / VVhich like a vvaxen Image 'gainſt a fire / Beares no impreſſion of the thing it vvas. Example: JENNY pretends an Errand Hame, / Young ROGER draps the reſt, / To vvhiſper out his melting Flame, / And thovv his Laſſie's Breaſt. 4. To cause (someone or their feelings that are reserved or unfriendly) to become friendly or gentle. Labels: figuratively, transitive 5. To cause (something rigid) to become limp. Labels: archaic, figuratively, rare, transitive Example: "Speak aloud, my lord," said Elizabeth, "and at farther distance, so please you—your breath thaws our ruff. What have you to ask of us?" 6. Of something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow: to gradually melt or soften as a result of the temperature being raised. Labels: intransitive Example: the ice thaws Example: O that this too too ſallied [sullied] fleſh vvould melt, / Thavv and reſolue it ſelfe into a devve, […] 7. Of someone or something that is very cold: to gradually warm up. Labels: intransitive Example: The bog's green harper, thawing from his sleep, / Twangs a hoarse note and tried a shortened leap; […] 8. With the dummy pronoun it: of the weather: to become sufficiently warm for ice, snow, etc., to melt. Labels: impersonal, intransitive Example: It’s beginning to thaw. Example: It Thaweth as the weather dothe whan the froſt breaketh⸝ […] It thaweth a pace: […] 9. Of a person or their feelings that are reserved or unfriendly: to become friendly or gentle. Labels: figuratively, intransitive Example: Her anger has thawed. Example: The atmosphere at the meeting never really thawed. 10. Of something inactive: to become active; also, of something unfeeling: to develop feelings. Labels: figuratively, intransitive