mown

Everyday

1. Cut short with a mower or a scythe, used about grass and hay. tree →
2. (adjective) Freshly cut, as in "newly mown lawn". tree →
3. (with "down", literary) Killed in large numbers, as in "mown down". tree →

In the lessons

Used in everyday life and stories about gardens, parks, sports fields and farms; "the smell of freshly mown grass" is a classic summer image. In history and war stories "mown down" means many people were shot or knocked down.

Examples

• The grass has been mown, so we can play football. tree →
• I love the smell of freshly mown grass. tree →
• The cricket pitch was neatly mown in stripes. tree →
• The farmer had mown the hay and left it to dry. tree →
• Dad has mown the lawn every Saturday this summer. tree →
• The newly mown field was full of birds looking for insects. tree →
• In the battle, soldiers were mown down by machine guns. tree →
• Just make me ten scythes, one for every man, for I want the grass mown in one of my meadows to-morrow.” tree →

Note

Past tense is "mowed" (He mowed the lawn). Past participle can be "mown" or "mowed" (has mown / has mowed). Homophone trap: "moan" (to complain) sounds the same as "mown".

In Jewish tradition

It means cut, as grass is cut for hay. The Psalm compares a good king's rule to rain on mown grass.

Interpretation. The psalm is read as a prayer for a just king. Tradition links the ideal king to Solomon and to the Messiah.

Examples

• May he come down like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. (Writings PSA.72.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• When the hay is mown, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in; (Writings PRO.27.25, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past tense is "mowed" (He mowed the lawn). Past participle can be "mown" or "mowed" (has mown / has mowed). Homophone trap: "moan" (to complain) sounds the same as "mown".