sinew

[ sin-yoo ]

noun

1. a tendon.
2. Often sinews. the source of strength, power, or vigor:

   the sinews of the nation.

3. strength; power; resilience:

   a man of great moral sinew.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with sinews; strengthen, as by sinews.

sinew

/ ˈsɪnjuː /

noun

1. anatomy another name for tendon
2. often plural
   1. a source of strength or power
   2. a literary word for muscle

Derived Forms

• ˈsinewless, adjective

Other Words From

• sinew·less adjective
• un·sinewed adjective
• un·sinew·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinew¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English sinu (nominative), sinuwe (genitive); cognate with Dutch zenuw, German Sehne, Old Norse sin; akin to Sanskrit snāva sinew

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinew¹

Old English sionu; related to Old Norse sin, Old Saxon sinewa, Old High German senawa sinew, Lettish pasainis string

Example Sentences

“The idea was just to go look at the muscles and sinews that would be a good reference for us when we build it.”

From Los Angeles Times

Among the findings are arrows preserved with their original feathers, remains of fibres, and two bowstrings made of animal sinews, which are the oldest found so far in Europe.

From Science Daily

Lois is a walking TV trope made tolerable solely by the muscle and sinew of Nash-Betts’ performance: another gifted detective who has seen too much and self-medicates with gallons of vodka.

From Salon

Ngannou's legs folded underneath him, more than 19 stone of bone, sinew and muscle going limp.

From BBC

He said the UK had been "straining every sinew" to get aid into Gaza and that it "must be flooded in".

From BBC

Related Words

• tendon