sinew Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a cord or band of inelastic tissue connecting a muscle with its bony attachment
    tendon.
  2. noun possessing muscular strength
    brawn; heftiness; brawniness; muscle; muscularity.

WordNet

Sin"ew noun
Etymology
OE. sinewe, senewe, AS. sinu, seonu; akin to D. zenuw, OHG. senawa, G. sehne, Icel. sin, Sw. sena, Dan. sene; cf. Skr. snava.
Definitions
  1. (Anat.) A tendon or tendonous tissue. See Tendon.
  2. Muscle; nerve. R. Sir J. Davies.
  3. Fig.: That which supplies strength or power.
    The portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry. Shak.
    The bodies of men, munition, and money, may justly be called the sinews of war. Sir W. Raleigh.
    ✍ Money alone is often called the sinews of war.
Sin"ew transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Sinewed ; present participle & verbal noun Sinewing
Definitions
  1. To knit together, or make strong with, or as with, sinews. Shak.
    Wretches, now stuck up for long tortures . . . might, if properly treated, serve to sinew the state in time of danger. Goldsmith.

Webster 1913