Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHEW, v.t. [Sax. ceowan; D. kaauwen; G. kauen. See Chaw.]

1. To bite and grind with the teeth; to masticate, as food, to prepare it for deglutition and digestion.
2. To ruminate in the thoughts; to meditate; as, to chew revenge. – Shak.
3. To champ; to bite, hold or roll about in the mouth; as, to chew tobacco.
4. To taste, without swallowing. – Shak.