From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Stew \Stew\, v. i.
To be seethed or cooked in a slow, gentle manner, or in heat
and moisture.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Stew \Stew\, n. [OE. stue, stuwe, OF. estuve. See Stew, v. t.]
1. A place of stewing or seething; a place where hot bathes
are furnished; a hothouse. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
As burning Aetna from his boiling stew
Doth belch out flames. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
The Lydians were inhibited by Cyrus to use any
armor, and give themselves to baths and stews.
--Abp. Abbot.
[1913 Webster]
2. A brothel; -- usually in the plural. --Bacon. South.
[1913 Webster]
There be that hate harlots, and never were at the
stews. --Aschman.
[1913 Webster]
3. A prostitute. [Obs.] --Sir A. Weldon.
[1913 Webster]
4. A dish prepared by stewing; as, a stewof pigeons.
[1913 Webster]
5. A state of agitating excitement; a state of worry;
confusion; as, to be in a stew. [Colloq.]
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Stew \Stew\, n. [Cf. Stow.]
1. A small pond or pool where fish are kept for the table; a
vivarium. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] --Chaucer. Evelyn.
[1913 Webster]
2. An artificial bed of oysters. [Local, U.S.]
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Stew \Stew\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stewed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Stewing.] [OE. stuven, OF. estuver, F. ['e]tuver, fr. OF.
estuve, F. ['e]tuve, a sweating house, a room heated for a
bath; probably of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. stove. See
Stove, and cf. Stive to stew.]
To boil slowly, or with the simmering or moderate heat; to
seethe; to cook in a little liquid, over a gentle fire,
without boiling; as, to stew meat; to stew oysters; to stew
apples.
[1913 Webster]