saw´er

saw¹ «s», noun, verb, sawed, sawed or sawn, saw|ing.

–n.

1. a tool for cutting, made of a thin blade with sharp teeth on the edge: »

Workmen use saws to cut wood, stone, metal, plastics, and other material (Arthur C. Ansley).

2. a machine with such a tool for cutting.

3. a tool without teeth that wears its way, as through stone.

–v.t.

1. to cut with a saw: »

The man sawed wood for the fireplace.

2. to make with a saw: »

Boards are sawed from logs.

3. Figurative: »

Do not saw the air too much with your hand (Shakespeare).

4. to work (something) from side to side like a saw.

–v.i.

1. to use a saw: »

Can you saw straight?

2. to be sawed: »

Pine wood saws more easily than oak.

3. Figurative. to cut as a saw does.

╂[Old English sagu, saga]

–saw´er, noun.

–saw´like´, adjective.

saw² «s», verb.

the past tense of see¹: »

I saw a robin yesterday.

saw³ «s», noun.

a wise saying; proverb: »

“A stitch in time saves nine” is a familiar saw. It is an old Wall Street saw that “the market never discounts anything twice” (Newsweek).

SYNONYM(S): maxim, adage.

╂[Old English sagu, related to secgan to say]