sinew en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈsɪnjuː/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈsɪnjʉː/ (Australia)
- /ˈsɪny/ (Multicultural-London-English)
- /ˈsɪnju/ (General-American)
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From Middle English synwe, synewe (“tendon; ligament or other connective tissue; muscle; nerve; leaf vein”), from Old English sinu (“tendon, sinew; nerve”), from Proto-West Germanic *sinu, from Proto-Germanic *sinwō, from Proto-Indo-European *snéh₁wr̥ (“sinew, tendon”), from *(s)neh₁- (“to twist (threads), spin, weave”). The word is cognate with sinnow (“sinew”), Scots senon, sinnon, Saterland Frisian Siene (“sinew”), West Frisian senuw, sine (“sinew; nerve”), Dutch zeen (“sinew”), Dutch zenuw (“nerve”), German Sehne (“tendon, sinew; cord”), Icelandic sin (“tendon”), Danish sene (“tendon, sinew”), Swedish sena (“sinew”), Avestan 𐬯𐬥𐬁𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬭 (snāuuar, “tendon, sinew”), Ancient Greek νεῦρον (neûron, “tendon; nerve; cord”), Latin nervus (“tendon, sinew; nerve”), Sanskrit स्नावन् (snāván, “sinew, tendon; muscle”), Tocharian B ṣñor (“sinew”). Doublet of nerve and neuron.
Meanings
- A cord or tendon of the body.
- A cord or string, particularly (music) as of a musical instrument.
- (figuratively) Muscular power, muscle; nerve, nervous energy; vigor, vigorous strength.
-
(figuratively, in-plural, often) That which gives strength or in which strength consists; a supporting factor or member; mainstay.
The Bodies of Men, Munition, and Mony may justly be called the ſinews of War, yet of them the two firſt are more neceſſary, for Men and Arms have means to find Mony and Meate: but Mony and Meate cannot ſo eaſily find Soldiers and ſwords.
1658, Walter Raleigh, “A Collection of Political Observations (Confirmed by Reason and Experience) Advertising Princes, Statesmen, and Private Persons how to Demean Themselves in All Fortunes and Events”, in The Cabinet-Council: Containing the Cheif^([sic]) Arts of Empire, and Mysteries of State; […], London: Published by John Milton; printed by Tho[mas] Newcomb for Tho[mas] Johnson […], →OCLC, page 101:[S]he loſt a noble and renowned brother, in his loue toward her, euer moſt kinde and naturall: with him the portion and ſinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry: with both, her combynate-husband, this well-ſeeming Angelo.
c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 72, column 2:Good company and good discourse are the very sinews of virtue.
1653, Iz[aak] Wa[lton], The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing, […], London: […] T. Maxey for Rich[ard] Marriot, […], →OCLC; reprinted as The Compleat Angler (Homo Ludens; 6), Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands: Miland Publishers, 1969, →ISBN:
- (obsolete) A nerve.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sinnew | alternative | lexicographic | |
| sinews | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
twine (cord or string)
Deriveds
sinewish · insinewed · sinewless · sinews of war · desinew · sinewous · sinewy · insinew · sinew-shrunk · sinewed
Translations (25)
hu mozgatóerő (that which gives strength or in which strength consists) · de Muskelkraft (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · de Nervenstärke (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · sv styrka (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · bg мускулатура (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · sh snaga (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · hy զորություն (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · nl wilskracht (that which gives strength or in which strength consists) · fi voimanlähde (that which gives strength or in which strength consists) · nl sterkte (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · de Spannkraft (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · de Kraft (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · fi voima (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · sh снага (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · it nerbo (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · hu izomerő (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · hu erő (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · ro vână (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · nl spierkracht (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · sv spänst (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · hu hajtóerő (that which gives strength or in which strength consists) · de Stärke (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · bg физическа сила (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · fi jäntevyys (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength) · cs síla (muscular power, muscle; vigor, vigorous strength)