renew
Etymology

From Middle English renewen, an alteration (possibly on analogy with Latin renovāre) of earlier anewen ("to renew"), from Old English nīewian, equivalent to re- + new.

Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ɹɪˈnjuː/
  • (America) IPA: /ɹɪˈnu/
Verb

renew (renews, present participle renewing; simple past and past participle renewed)

  1. (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.
  2. (transitive) To replace (something which has broken etc.); to replenish (something which has been exhausted), to keep up a required supply of. [from 14thc.]
  3. (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.
  4. (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: […] 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.
    • 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.
  5. (transitive) To begin again; to recommence. [from 16thc.]
    This murder has been a cold case for decades until last year when the new sheriff renewed the investigation.
    • 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.
    • 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.
  6. (rare) To repeat. [from 17thc.]
    • 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 ↗:
      The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds
      Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.
  7. (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 Related terms Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Noun

renew (plural renews)

  1. Synonym of renewal



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