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saw¹

(sô)

Any of various tools, either hand-operated or power-driven, having a thin metal blade or disk with a sharp, usually toothed edge, used for cutting wood, metal, or other hard materials.

v. sawed, sawed or sawn (sôn), saw·ing, saws

v.tr.

1. To cut or divide with a saw.

2. To produce or shape with a saw: sawed a hole in the board.

3. To make back-and-forth motions through or on: a speaker who saws the air with his arms.

v.intr.

1. To use a saw: sawing along the chalk line.

2. To undergo cutting with a saw: Pine wood saws easily.

[Middle English sawe, from Old English sagu, saw; see sek- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

sawer n.

(click for a larger image)

saw¹

top to bottom: compass saw, backsaw, and crosscut saw

saw²

(sô)

A familiar saying, especially one that has become trite through repetition. See Synonyms at saying.

[Middle English sawe, from Old English sagu, speech; see sek^w-³ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

saw³

(sô)

Past tense of see¹.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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