sinew — O.E. seonowe, oblique form of nom. sionu sinew, from P.Gmc. *senawo (Cf. O.S. sinewa, O.N. sina, O.Fris. sine, M.Du. senuwe, O.H.G. senawa, Ger. Sehne), from PIE root *sai to bend (Cf. Skt. snavah sinew … Etymology dictionary
Sinew — Sin ew, n. [OE. sinewe, senewe, AS. sinu, seonu; akin to D. zenuw, OHG. senawa, G. sehne, Icel. sin, Sw. sena, Dan. sene; cf. Skr. sn[=a]va. [root]290.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Anat.) A tendon or tendonous tissue. See {Tendon}. [1913 Webster] 2.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Sinew — Sin ew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sinewed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sinewing}.] To knit together, or make strong with, or as with, sinews. Shak. [1913 Webster] Wretches, now stuck up for long tortures . . . might, if properly treated, serve to sinew the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
sinew — I noun brawn, brawniness, effectiveness, endurance, energy, force, forcefulness, grit, lustiness, might, muscle, nervus, potence, potency, power, powerfulness, robustness, stamina, staying power, strength, thews, vigor, vigorousness II index… … Law dictionary
sinew — ► NOUN 1) a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone; a tendon or ligament. 2) (sinews) the parts of a structure or system that give it strength or bind it together. DERIVATIVES sinewy adjective. ORIGIN Old English … English terms dictionary
sinew — [sin′yo͞o] n. [ME < OE seonwe, oblique form < nom. seonu, akin to OHG senawa, ON sin < IE base * sēi , to bind, a band > L saeta, bristle, Sans sināti, (he) ties] 1. a tendon 2. muscular power; strength 3. any source of power or… … English World dictionary
sinew — I. noun Etymology: Middle English sinewe, from Old English seono; akin to Old High German senawa sinew, Sanskrit syati he binds Date: before 12th century 1. tendon; especially one dressed for use as a cord or thread 2. obsolete nerve 3 … New Collegiate Dictionary
sinew — UK [ˈsɪnjuː] / US [ˈsɪnju] noun Word forms sinew : singular sinew plural sinews 1) [countable/uncountable] the strong substance that connects muscles to bone, or a piece of this 2) [uncountable] literary strength … English dictionary
sinew — [[t]sɪ̱njuː[/t]] sinews N COUNT A sinew is a cord in your body that connects a muscle to a bone. ...the sinews of the neck … English dictionary
sinew — sin•ew [[t]ˈsɪn yu[/t]] n. 1) anat. a tendon 2) Often, sinews. a source of strength, power, or vigor: the sinews of the nation[/ex] 3) strength; power; resilience: great moral sinew[/ex] 4) to strengthen, as with sinews • Etymology: bef. 900; ME; … From formal English to slang