Mew Meaning
/ˈmjuː/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA gull, seagull.
nounA prison, or other place of confinement.
Sentence Examples
The cat continued to mew.
The cats next door mew a lot.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hungry kitten let out a soft ____ from behind the door.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The small kitten gave a soft and gentle ____ to let its mother know that it was hungry and ready to eat.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English mewe, mowe, meau, from Old English mǣw (“seagull”), from Proto-West Germanic *maiwī, from Proto-Germanic *mai(h)waz (“seagull”). See also West Frisian meau, miuw, Dutch meeuw, German Möwe (whence Polish mewa); akin to Latvian maût (“to roar”), Old Church Slavonic мꙑꙗти (myjati, “to mew”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"A daungerous and detestable place,
To which nor fish nor fowle did once approch,
But yelling Meawes, with Seagulles hoarse and bace […]"
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
"From helm to sea they saw him leap,
As arrow from the string,
And dive into the water deep,
As mew upon the wing."
— 1954, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring:
"Ne toung did tell, ne hand these handled not, / But safe I haue them kept in secret mew, / From heauens sight, and powre of all which them pursew."
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
"A horse in a stable that never travels, a hawk in a mew that seldom flies, are both subject to diseases; which, left unto themselves, are most free from any such encumbrances."
— 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:
"More pity that the eagle should be mew’d,
While kites and buzzards prey at liberty."
— c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hungry kitten let out a soft ____ from behind the door.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The small kitten gave a soft and gentle ____ to let its mother know that it was hungry and ready to eat.