The word "hew" has multiple meanings, including cutting or shaping with a sharp tool, and conforming to or adhering to something. The verb "hew" is often used with "to" to mean following a particular path or set of principles. Both "hewed" and "hewn" are past participles of the verb "hew". The word "hew" can be seen in phrases such as "hewed closely to the party line" or "hewed logs for building cabins". The connection between the different meanings of "hew" lies in the woodworking phrase "hew to the line", where "line" refers to a mark on a log indicating where to chop. In this context, "hewing to the line" means cutting along the mark and adhering to it. The phrase "hew to the line" was later used figuratively in the idiom "hew to the line, let the chips fall where they may", advising someone to stay true to a course of action. Over time, the latter half of the phrase has been dropped, leaving only "hew to the line". The word "hew" is still used today in phrases such as "the play hewed closely to the original script". The multiple meanings of "hew" may seem arbitrary without context, but they are connected through the woodworking phrase "hew to the line".