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definitions

sinew

[ sin-yoo ]
/ ˈsɪn yu /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sinew ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a tendon.
Often sinews. the source of strength, power, or vigor: the sinews of the nation.
strength; power; resilience: a man of great moral sinew.

verb (used with object)

to furnish with sinews; strengthen, as by sinews.

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RELATED WORDS

tendon, vigor, potency, force, power, vitality, muscle, thew

Nearby words

  1. sine prole,
  2. sine qua non,
  3. sine wave,
  4. sinecure,
  5. sinemet,
  6. sinewy,
  7. sinfjotli,
  8. sinfonia,
  9. sinfonietta,
  10. sinful

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
Related formssin·ew·less, adjectiveun·sin·ewed, adjectiveun·sin·ew·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sinew

British Dictionary definitions for sinew

sinew

/ (ˈsɪnjuː) /

noun

anatomy another name for tendon
(often plural)
  1. a source of strength or power
  2. a literary word for muscle
Derived Formssinewless, adjective

Word Origin for sinew

Old English sionu; related to Old Norse sin, Old Saxon sinewa, Old High German senawa sinew, Lettish pasainis string
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medicine definitions for sinew

sinew

[ sĭn′yōō ]

n.

A tendon.
Vigorous strength; muscular power.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.