transmew, transmue, v. Obs. or arch.
(trɑːnsˈmjuː, træns-)
Also 4–5 -muwe, -mewe, 5 -mywe.
[a. F. transmue-r (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), semi-learned form:—L. transmūtāre to change, transmute, f. trans- + mūtāre to change: see mew v.1]
trans. = transmute 1.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iv. 439 (467) Thow most me first transmuwen [v.r. transmute] in a ston. Ibid. 802 (830) Ioies..Þat now transmuwed ben in cruel wo. c 1407 Lydg. Reson & Sens. 4323 She to A larke was transmewed. 1512 Helyas in Thoms Prose Rom. (1828) III. 81 His v. brethren and his sister, which were transmued in to swannes. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. vii. 35 Men into stones therewith he could transmew, And stones to dust, and dust to nought at all. a 1643 W. Cartwright Ordinary v. iv. in Hazl. Dodsley XII. 308, I, Robert Moth..do transmue my name to Geffery. 1748 Thomson Cast. Indol. ii. xlii, As if transmew'd to stone. 1820 Scott Monast. xviii, To cast my riding slough, and to transmew myself into some civil form. |
† b. intr. for pass. = transmute 1 c. Obs.
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 2526 In siker wise thou hir salewe, Wherwith thi colour wole transmewe. c 1407 Lydg. Reson & Sens. 303 Dame nature..Alle erthely thing repaireth newe..Eche thinge..Which she seth faylle and transmywe. a 1461 ― Beware Doubleness 44 Fortune's wheel..Whos cours standeth ever in doute For to transmew. |