From Middle English renewen, an alteration (possibly on analogy with Latin renovāre) of earlier anewen (“to renew”), from Old English nīewian (“to restore; renovate; renew”), equivalent to re- + new. Cognate with Old High German giniuwōn (“to renew”), Middle High German geniuwen (“to renew”), Old Norse nýja (“to renew”).
From Middle English renewen, an alteration (possibly on analogy with Latin renovāre) of earlier anewen (“to renew”), from Old English nīewian (“to restore; renovate; renew”), equivalent to re- + new. Cognate with Old High German giniuwōn (“to renew”), Middle High German geniuwen (“to renew”), Old Norse nýja (“to renew”).
Meanings
(transitive) To make (something) new again; to restore to freshness or original condition.
In such a night
Medea gather’d the enchanted herbs
That did renew old Æson. c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
(transitive) To replace (something which has broken etc.); to replenish (something which has been exhausted), to keep up a required supply of.
To make new spiritually; to regenerate.
For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 4:16:
And fassion not youre selves lyke vnto this worlde: But be ye chaunged in youre shape by the renuynge of youre wittes that ye maye fele what thynge that good yt acceptable and perfaycte will of god is. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Romans xij:[2]:
(archaic, intransitive) To become new, or as new; to revive.
[…] to such as are in fear they strike a great impression, renew many times, and recal such chimeras and terrible fictions into their minds. , II.2.6.ii
But Christianity was a new religious force in Augustine's day. Today, as you say, its power to integrate culture has all but disappeared. Does Christianity still have the capacity to renew? 1997 July, “Seeking Christian interiority: An interview with Louis Dupre”, in Christian Century, volume 114, number 21, page 654:
Renewing neighborhoods dealing with vacant buildings badly need options other than demolition or dangerous vacant spaces. 2010 September, Michael Allen, "St. Louis Preservation Fund", St. Louis magazine, ISSN 1090-5723, Vol.16, Is.9, p.74
(transitive) To begin again; to recommence.
1660, John Dryden, translating Virgil, (apparently from Eclogue 4), a snippet of translation used to introduce Dryden's Astræa Redux: A poem on the happy restoration and return of His Sacred Majesty Charles II
The last great age, foretold by sacred rhymes,
Renews its finished course; Saturnian times
Roll round again.
“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron;[…].
Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache. 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
Then gan he all this storie to renew,
And tell the course of his captivitie […] 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
This murder has been a cold case for decades until last year when the new sheriff renewed the investigation.
(rare) To repeat.
The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds
Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
(intransitive, transitive) To extend a period of loan, especially a library book that is due to be returned.
I'd like to renew these three books. Did you know that you can renew online?
es recomenzar (to begin again; to recommence) · es renovar (to make new spiritually; to regenerate) · bg възстановя́вам (to make new spiritually; to regenerate) · ru обновля́ть (to make new again) · hu megújhodik (to become new, or as new) · hu megújít (to begin again; to recommence) · es renovar (to make new again) · ru обнови́ться (to become new, or as new) · de erneuern (to make new again) · bg обновя́вам се (to become new, or as new) · es reanudar (to make new again) · lt atnaujinti (to make new again) · bg обновя́ (to make new again) · uk відно́влювати (to make new again) · mi whakahou (to make new again) · es substituir (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · ro reînnoi (to make new again) · es reiniciar (to begin again; to recommence) · mi tāmata (to make new again) · nl vernieuwen (to make new again) · ru восстана́вливать (to make new spiritually; to regenerate) · uk обновля́ти (to make new again) · ka განახლება (to make new again) · fi uusia (to begin again; to recommence) · be абнаві́ць (to make new again) · bg възстановя́ (to make new spiritually; to regenerate) · bg подновя́вам (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · fi uudistaa (to make new again) · cmn 續借 /续借 (to extend a period of loan) · hu felújít (to begin again; to recommence) · ru повторя́ть (to repeat; to go over again) · fi uudistua (to become new, or as new) · es reemplazar (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · es renovar (to extend a period of loan) · nl hernieuwen (to make new again) · hu meghosszabbít (to extend a period of loan) · ja 再創造する (to make new again) · bg повто́ря (to repeat; to go over again) · bg обновя́вам (to make new again) · uk обно́влювати (to make new again) · fi uusia (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · uk віднови́ти (to make new again) · uk обнови́ти (to make new again) · fi jatkaa (to extend a period of loan) · bg подновя́вам (to extend a period of loan) · ka გაახლება (to make new again) · es renovar (to repeat; to go over again) · fr renouveler (to make new again) · hu megújít (to repeat; to go over again) · ru возобнови́ть (to begin again; to recommence) · fi uudistaa (to make new spiritually; to regenerate) · hu hosszabbít (to extend a period of loan) · el ανανεώνω (to make new again) · es renovar (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · de erneuern (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · ru повтори́ть (to repeat; to go over again) · ro înnoi (to make new again) · fi toistaa (to begin again; to recommence) · grc ἀνανεόομαι (to make new again) · pt reiniciar (to begin again; to recommence) · bg възобновя́вам (to begin again; to recommence) · ca renovar (to make new again) · es remudar (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · fi elpyä (to become new, or as new) · ar جَدَّدَ (to make new again) · grc καινόω (to make new again) · nl vernieuwen (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · hu kicserél (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · arz جدد (to make new again) · pt renovar (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · hu megújul (to become new, or as new) · eo renovigi (to make new again) · hu felújít (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · es renovar (to become new, or as new) · bg възобновя́ (to begin again; to recommence) · ru обнови́ть (to make new again) · nl hernieuwen (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · fi toistaa (to repeat; to go over again) · ga athnuaigh (to make new again) · ru продлева́ть (to extend a period of loan) · bg подновя́ (to extend a period of loan) · ru подновля́ть (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · ru продли́ть (to extend a period of loan) · es cambiar (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · mi whakahou (to become new, or as new) · pt renovar (to make new again) · got 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌽𐌹𐌿𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to make new again) · uk оновля́ти (to make new again) · ru обновля́ться (to become new, or as new) · ru восстанови́ть (to make new spiritually; to regenerate) · no fornye (to make new again) · uk онови́ти (to make new again) · fi vaihtaa (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · be абнаўля́ць (to make new again) · mi whakamohou (to make new again) · ru поднови́ть (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · hu felfrissül (to become new, or as new) · bg подновя́ (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · hu megismétel (to repeat; to go over again) · de verlängern (to extend a period of loan) · uk відновля́ти (to make new again) · fi uusiutua (to become new, or as new) · sv förnya (to make new again) · ru возобновля́ть (to begin again; to recommence) · hu újrakezd (to begin again; to recommence) · uk оно́влювати (to make new again) · hu megújít (to make new again) · gl anovar (to make new again) · hu felújul (to become new, or as new) · bg повта́рям (to repeat; to go over again) · es reponer (to substitute for a new one of the same nature) · bg обновя́ се (to become new, or as new) · ar جَدِد (to repeat; to go over again) · ro renova (to make new again)