to strike forcibly with an ax, sword, or other cutting instrument; chop; hack.

to make, shape, smooth, etc., with cutting blows

to hew a passage through the crowd; to hew a statue from marble.

to sever (a part) from a whole by means of cutting blows (usually fol. by away, off, out, from, etc.)

to hew branches from the tree.

to cut down; fell

to hew wood; trees hewed down by the storm.

to strike with cutting blows; cut

He hewed more vigorously each time.

to uphold, follow closely, or conform (usually fol. by to )

to hew to the tenets of one's political party.