ppl. a. Obs. [See THEWED.] Having a good character or disposition; well-conducted, well-mannered, virtuous.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 41. Þe wise manne and þat wel-þeaud child habbeð boðe on laȝe.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1914. He wulde ðat he sulde hem ten ðat he wel-ðewed sulde ben.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, V. 89. Tweye ȝongelynges … wel i-þewed [moribus compositos].
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 51. It sit a prest to be wel thewed, And schame it is if he be lewed.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, IV. 1121. This Calistenes, in youthe riht weel thewed.
1483. Cath. Angl., 413/1. Wele thewyd, morigeratus.
a. 1529. Skelton, Agst. Garnesche, iv. 147. Malapert, medyllar, nothyng well thewde.
1642–7. H. More, Song of Soul, II. i. I. xxiii. Well thewed minds the mind do alwayes setten free.
b. transf. of speech, etc.
c. 1522. Skelton, Why nat to Court? 328. Thy tonge is nat wel thewde.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Feb., 96. To nought more … my mind is bent, Then to heare nouells of his deuise: They bene so well thewed [E. K., Glosse, that is Bene moratæ, full of morall wisenesse].
1594. Zepheria, i. 2. Many their well thewd rimes doe fayre attemper Vnto their amours.
1624. Bp. Mountagu, Immed. Addr., 35. The Prayers of the Church, in our Common Liturgies,… are very well thewed and composed for the nonce, to fit the dispositions and affections of men.
