pew

5 definitions found

pew - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Pew \Pew\, v. t.
     To furnish with pews. [R.] --Ash.
     [1913 Webster]

  Pew \Pew\ (p[=u]), n. [OE. pewe, OF. puie parapet, balustrade,
     balcony, fr. L. podium an elevated place, a jutty, balcony, a
     parapet or balcony in the circus, where the emperor and other
     distinguished persons sat, Gr. po`dion, dim. of poy`s,
     podo`s, foot; -- hence the Latin sense of a raised place
     (orig. as a rest or support for the foot). See Foot, and
     cf. Podium, Poy.]
     1. One of the compartments in a church which are separated by
        low partitions, and have long seats upon which several
        persons may sit; -- sometimes called slip. Pews were
        originally made square, but are now usually long and
        narrow.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any structure shaped like a church pew, as a stall,
        formerly used by money lenders, etc.; a box in theater; a
        pen; a sheepfold. [Obs.] --Pepys. --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Pew opener, an usher in a church. [Eng.] --Dickens.
        [1913 Webster]

pew - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  pew
      n 1: long bench with backs; used in church by the congregation
           [syn: pew, church bench]

pew - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  PEW. A seat in a church separated from all others, with a convenient space 
  to stand therein. 
       2. It is an incorporeal interest in the real property. And, although a 
  man has the exclusive right to it, yet, it seems, he cannot maintain 
  trespass against a person entering it; 1 T. R. 430; but case is the proper 
  remedy. 3 B. & Ald. 361; 8 B. & C. 294; S. C. 15 Eng. C. L. R. 221. 
       3. The right to pews is limited and usufructuary, and does not 
  interfere with the right of the parish or congregation to pull down and 
  rebuild the church. 4 Ohio R 541; 5 Cowen's R. 496; 17 Mass. R. 435; 1 Pick. 
  R. 102; 3 Pick. R. 344; 6 S. & R. 508; 9 Wheat. R. 445; 9 Cranch, R. 52; 6 
  John. R. 41; 4 Johns. Ch. R. 596; 6 T. R. 396. Vide Pow. Mortgages, Index, 
  h.t.; 2 Bl. Com. 429; 1 Chit. Pr. 208, 210; 1 Pow. Mort. 17 n. 
       4. In Connecticut and Maine, and in Massachusetts, (except in Boston), 
  pews are considered real estate: in Boston they are personal chattels. In 
  New Hampshire they are personal property. 1 Smith's St. 145. The precise 
  nature of such property does not appear to be well settled in New York. 15 
  Wend. R. 218; 16 Wend. R. 28; 5 Cowen's R. 494. See Rev. St. Mass. 413; 
  Conn. L. 432; 10 Mass. R. 323 17 Mass. 438; 7 Pick. R. 138; 4 N. H. Rep. 
  180; 4 Ohio R. 515; 4 Harr. & McHen. 279; Harr. Dig. Ecclesiastical Law. 
  Vide Perturbation of seat; Best on Pres. 111; Crabb on R. P. Sec. 481 to 
  497. 
  
  

pew - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :

  21 Moby Thesaurus words for "pew":
     amen corner, anxious bench, anxious seat, booth, box, cavity, cell,
     cellule, chamber, compartment, crib, crypt, enclosed space, hold,
     hole, hollow, manger, penitent form, sedilia, stall, vault