Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BREW, v.t. [Sax. briwan, to brew; briw, broth; D. brouwen, to brew, to contrive, to mix; G. brauen. These seem to be contractions of the Gothic; Sw. briggia; Dan. brygger, to brew. The Russ. has burchu. The Welch has brwc, a boiling, stir, tumult, from rhwc, something rough; and it has also berwi, to boil or bubble, whence berwezu, to brew, from bar, fury, impulse. Our word brew seems to be directly from the Saxon. The sense is, to stir, boil, or agitate with violence.]

1. In a general sense, to boil, and mix; hence in Saxon, it signifies broth or pottage; Old Eng. brewis.
2. In a more restricted sense, to make beer, ale or other similar liquor from malt; or to prepare a liquor from malt and hops, and in private families, from other materials, by steeping, boiling and fermentation.
3. To mingle. Brew me a pottle of sack. – Shak.
4. To contrive; to plot; as, to brew mischief.
5. To put in a state of preparation. – Qu.