Meanings
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1
noun
a tough cord or tendon connecting muscle to bone
The hunter used dried animal sinew to bind the pieces of the tool together.
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2
noun
a source of strength, power, or effective support, especially when used in the plural
Skilled workers were the sinews of the growing industry.
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3
noun
a strong cord or string, especially one made from animal tendon
The bow was strung with a tightly twisted sinew.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English sinewe and Old English sinu, 'tendon or sinew,' from a Proto-Germanic word of the same meaning. It is related to words for tendon and nerve across Germanic languages and may ultimately derive from an Indo-European root associated with twisting or spinning threads.