sinew

American  

[sin-yoo] / ˈsɪn yu /

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.

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verb (used with object)

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

sinew British  

/ ˈsɪnjuː /

noun

1. anatomy another name for tendon

2. (often plural)

   1. a source of strength or power

   2. a literary word for muscle

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Other Word Forms

• sinewless adjective
• unsinewed adjective
• unsinewing adjective

Etymology

Origin of sinew

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

Example Sentences

She became the party’s spine and its sinew, holding together the Democrat’s many warring factions and standing firm at times the more timorous were prepared to back down.

From Los Angeles Times

Players who don't have the manager's back might not strain every last sinew when they know his job is hanging by a thread.

From BBC

“Fox” has the bones of a potboiler but is supported by the sinew of the author’s elegant structure and syntax.

From Los Angeles Times

“To have had the opportunity to come back and to really play, discover, and put flesh and blood and sinew and heartbeat into this woman, to really fill her out,” O’Reilly says.

From Los Angeles Times

But the Gloucester lock's superb restart take,, external all arched back, strained sinew and single-paw dexterity, early against Exeter bore more than a bit of a resemblance.

From BBC

Related Words

• tendon