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# strew

verb (strew, strews, strewed, strewn or strewed, strewing)

«strew» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To scatter things untidily over a surface. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/strew/#m1)
2. To be lying scattered over a place: leaves strewed the path. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/strew/#m2)

### In the lessons

A describing verb for messy or scattered scenes: toys strewn across the floor, petals strewn at a wedding, rubbish strewn on the beach. In The Wind in the Willows the weasels leave Toad Hall strewn with mess after their feasting. Common phrase: «strewn with».

### Examples

- Toys were strewn all over the bedroom floor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/strew/#x1)
- The flower girl strewed petals along the aisle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/strew/#x2)
- Leaves strewed the path after the storm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/strew/#x3)
- The beach was strewn with seaweed and shells. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/strew/#x4)
- Don't strew your clothes on the stairs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/strew/#x5)
- The kitchen was strewn with crumbs and plates. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/strew/#x6)
- The little maiden strewed flowers in her path. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/strew/#x7)

### Note

Past participle usually «strewn» («was strewn with»). Similar: scatter. Old form: «strow».

## In Jewish tradition

To strew is to scatter things over a surface. In the story of David's spies, a woman strewed grain over a well's mouth to hide the men inside.

**Interpretation.** Moses ground up the golden calf and made the people drink it. Tradition sees this as showing that the idol had no power and as a test of those who had sinned. The woman's trick in Samuel is read as a brave act that saved David's messengers.

### Examples

- And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, and strewed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. (Torah EXO.32.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/strew/#x1)
- And the woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and strewed groats thereon; and nothing was known. (Prophets 2SA.17.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/strew/#x2)

### Note

Past participle usually «strewn» («was strewn with»). Similar: scatter. Old form: «strow».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «strew» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/strew/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«strew» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/strew.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «strew» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/strew/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«strew» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/strew.html) on Mova free.