sinew

¹sin·ew

noun \ˈsin-(ˌ)yü also ˈsi-(ˌ)nü\

Definition of SINEW

1

: tendon; especially : one dressed for use as a cord or thread

2

obsolete : nerve

3

a : solid resilient strength : power <astonishing intellectual sinew and clarity — Reynolds Price>

b : the chief supporting force : mainstay —usually used in plural <providing the sinews of better living — Samuel Pollock>

Examples of SINEW

1. cutting through bone and sinew
2. <the justices displayed great intellectual depth and sinew in writing their opinion on this case>

Origin of SINEW

Middle English sinewe, from Old English seono; akin to Old High German senawa sinew, Sanskrit syati he binds

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SINEW

Synonyms

energy, firepower, force, horsepower, might, muscle, potence, potency, puissance, power, strength, vigor

Antonyms

impotence, impotency, powerlessness, weakness

Related Words

aptitude, capability, capacity, competence, competency; adequacy, effectiveness, effectualness, usefulness

Near Antonyms

disability, inability, inaptitude, incapability, incapableness, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency; ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy, uselessness; helplessness, paralysis

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with SINEW

accrue, achoo, adieu, ado, Agnew, aircrew, airscrew, anew, askew, babu, Baku, bamboo, battu, battue, bayou, bedew, beshrew, bestrew, bijou, boo-boo, boubou, brand-new, breakthrough, burgoo, cachou, can-do, canoe, caoutchouc, Carew, Cebu, Chonju, construe, Corfu, corkscrew, coypu, CQ, cuckoo, curfew, debut, Depew, doo-doo, ecu, endue, ensue, eschew, floor-through, fondue, fordo, Gansu, Gentoo, Gifu, goo-goo, GQ, ground crew, gumshoe, guru, hairdo, hereto, Hindu, home brew, Honshu, horseshoe, how-to, HQ, Hutu, igloo, imbrue, imbue, IQ, jackscrew, K2, Kansu, karoo, Karoo, kazoo, Khufu, kung fu, Kwangju, leadscrew, lean-to, long view, make-do, Matthew, me-too, mildew, milieu, miscue, misdo, muumuu, non-U, old-shoe, one-two, on view, outdo, perdu, Peru, poilu, prau, preview, pursue, purview, ragout, redo, renew, Renfrew, review, revue, rough-hew, run-through, sandshoe, Sardou, see-through, set-to, setscrew, shampoo, skiddoo, snafu, snowshoe, soft-shoe, span-new, subdue, surtout, taboo, Taegu, tattoo, thank-you, thereto, thumbscrew, to-do, too-too, tree shrew, undo, undue, unglue, unscrew, untrue, vatu, vendue, venue, virtu, voodoo, wahoo, walk-through, wherethrough, whereto, who's who, worldview, yahoo, yoo-hoo

²sinew

transitive verb

Definition of SINEW

: to strengthen as if with sinews

First Known Use of SINEW

circa 1614

sin·ew

noun \ˈsin-(ˌ)yü, -yə(-w) also ˈsin-(ˌ)ü\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of SINEW

: tendon