Sinew

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈsɪnjuː/

Alternative forms

• sinnew

Origin

From Middle English sinewe, synow, sinue, from Old English sinu, synu, senu, seono, seonu ("sinew, nerve, tendon"), from Proto-Germanic *sinwō, *senawō ("sinew"), from Proto-Indo-European *senew-, *snēw- ("tendon"), from Proto-Indo-European *sey- ("to bind, knit, tie together, tie to, connect"). Cognate with Scots senon, sinnon, sinnow ("sinew"), Saterland Frisian Siene ("sinew"), West Frisian senuw, sine ("nerve, sinew"), Dutch zenuw ("nerve, sinew"), German Sehne ("tendon, cord, sinew"), Swedish sena ("sinew"), Icelandic sin ("tendon"), Latin nervus ("sinew, nerve, tendon"), Ancient Greek νεῦρον (neũron, "tendon, cord, nerve"), Avestan (snāvar-, "tendon, sinew"), Sanskrit (snāvan-, snāván-, "tendon, muscle, sinew"), Tocharian B ṣñor.

Full definition of sinew

Noun

1. (anatomy) A cord or tendon of the body.
2. (obsolete) A nerve.
3. (figuratively) Muscle; nerve; nervous energy; vigor; vigorous strength; muscular power.
4. A string or chord, as of a musical instrument.
5. (figuratively) That which gives strength or in which strength consists; a supporting member or factor; mainstay; source of strength (often plural).
• ShakespeareThe portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry.
• Sir Walter RaleighThe bodies of men, munition, and money, may justly be called the sinews of war.

Derived terms

• sinewy

Verb

1. To knit together, or make strong with, or as if with, sinews.
• GoldsmithWretches, now stuck up for long tortures ... might, if properly treated, serve to sinew the state in time of danger.

Anagrams

• swine
• Wenis
• wines
• wisen