sinewn.
/ˈsɪnjuː/, U.S. /ˈsɪnju/ 1. † c. transferred. A rib in a leaf. Obsolete. rare.
a. Anatomy. A strong fibrous cord serving to connect a muscle with a bone or other part; a tendon. Also in figurative context (quot. 1560 at α. ).
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > structural parts > sinew, tendon, or ligament > [noun]
sinec725
sinewOE
stringc1000
bend1398
nerfa1400
nervea1400
cordc1400
ligamentc1400
ligaturec1400
couple1535
chord?1541
lien?1541
tendon?1541
tendant1614
artery1621
leader1708
ligamentum1713
chorda1807
vinculum1859
Tenon's capsule1868
tendo1874
α.
β. OE Andreas (1932) 1425 Nu sint sionwe toslopen, is min swat adropen.c1000 Saxon Leechd. II. 282 On þa saran sinua & aswollenan..bind on gate tyrdelu.c1000 Saxon Leechd. II. 328 Gif sinwe syn forcorfene, nim renwyrmas [etc.].c1305 St. Christopher 194 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 65 Hire lymes burste..Necke & synuen & oþer ek.1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. xxxii. 25 He towchide the synwe of his hip.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3944 O sinnu etes neuer juu.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3941 Þe maister sinu of his the.a1400–50 Stockh. Med. MS 97 To stawnche blod of weyne or of synuwe.c1430 Two Cookery Bks. 53 Take fayre Buttes of Porke..& clene pyke a-way þe bonys & þe Synewes.c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 78/1 Cynew,..of armys, or leggys, nervus.1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft iii. vi. 47 A spirit hath no flesh, bones, nor sinewes.1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 162 The oil or ointment..is comfortable to the sinues.1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid i. iii. 11 It happeneth..that through this needless stitching of the sinews, is caused the running of sinews.1727 J. Thomson Summer 36 While his big Sinews, full of Spirits, swell.1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 136 You cannot conceive..how it braces every sinew of the human frame.1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iii. 113 Such cause of haste Thine active sinews never braced.1865 J. R. Seeley Ecce Homo (ed. 8) iii. 23 No one questioned the stoutness of Samson's sinews.γ. c1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 1917 Ilka vayn and ilka synoghe and lith.c1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula 39 Þe mouþe of þe lure wiþ þe lacertes and þe synowes..was vtterly gnawen away.1483 Cath. Angl. 341/1 With owtyn Synows, eneruus.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ezek. xxxvii. 6 I wil geue you synowes, & make flesh growe vpon you.1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 126 His thyghes full of synowes, and his legges well knitte.1604 N. Breton Passionate Shepheard (1877) sig. B3 Each Sinow, Limme and ioynt, Perfect shape in euery point.1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Nerf, a Synnow.δ. c1480 (a1400) St. James Less 631 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 168 His senownys þat drawyn ware to-gyddyre, lousyt rycht þare.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 297 His houch sennownnis he cuttyt all atanys.c1500 W. Kennedy Passion of Christ 450 All his body þai fret, Saris his senonis.1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour l. 4921 in Wks. (1931) I Quhen that cald humour dounwart dois proceid, In Senownis it causis Arthetica.1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 287 Vanes, synnounis, banes.1829 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words (new ed.) Sinnon, for sinew.1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words at Sennen He cut yen o' the senons o' his leg wi' the adge.OE Beowulf 817 Seonowe onsprungon, burston banlocan.
c1000 Saxon Leechd. III. 48 Seonuwa [synd] fortogene & ða tan scrinceð up.
a1200 St. Marher. 7 Ant þenne ichulle tellen, hwen þu al to torren art,..alle þine seonewen.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3239 Þat deor..for-bat him þa breste ban and þa senuwen.
c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 175 Þere nas no flesch bi-leued bote senue and bare bon.
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 23 Paralitikes..mai not riȝtli move þer partis for feblenesse of þer senewis.
14.. in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 627 Neruus, zenew.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xx. 339 Grete and lene and full of veynes and of senewes.
a1529 J. Skelton Phyllyp Sparowe (?1545) sig. A.iii Where with my handes I wrange That my senaws cracked.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 8794 The bavme..Bret thurgh the bones and the big senowis.
1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. f. xii A senowe the which doth growe oute of the mydle of the spondylls.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cj To sende their ayde agaynst the Turke..were to vnarme them selues and to cut their owne senewes.
b. A tendon taken out of an animal body and used for some purpose, esp. for binding or tying with; hence, †a snare; a string in a musical instrument.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > equipment > trap or snare > [noun]
grinc825
trapa1000
snarea1100
swikea1100
granea1250
springec1275
gina1300
gnarea1325
stringc1325
trebuchet1362
latch?a1366
leashc1374
snarlc1380
foot gina1382
foot-grina1382
traina1393
sinewa1400
snatcha1400
foot trapa1425
haucepyc1425
slingc1425
engine1481
swar1488
frame1509
brakea1529
fang1535
fall trap1570
spring1578
box-trapa1589
spring trapa1589
sprint1599
noosec1600
springle1602
springe1607
toil1607
plage1608
deadfall1631
puppy snatch1650
snickle1681
steel trap1735
figure (of) four1743
gun-trap1749
stamp1788
stell1801
springer1813
sprent1822
livetrap1823
snaphance1831
catch pole1838
twitch-up1841
basket-trap1866
pole trap1879
steel fall1895
tread-trap1952
conibear trap1957
conibear1958
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fastening > binding or tying > a bond, tie, or fastening > [noun] > tie > thong, lace, or cord > sinew or rawhide
sinewa1400
babiche1806
shaganappi1873
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > stringed instruments > [noun] > parts generally > string
stringa1000
chorda1340
corda1340
sinew1605
course-
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7195 Wit seuen sinous wa sa me band, I tint my strenth.
a1400 Prymer (St. John's Cambr.) (1891) 82 Thou settest my foot in a synewe [L. in nervo].
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Judges xvi. 7 Seuene coordis of senewis.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Judges xvi. 7 Samson sayde vnto her: Yf I were bounde with seuen roapes of fresh senowes, which are not yet dryed vp, I shulde be weake, and as another man.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. viii. f. 38 They thrust the synew within the sheethe.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. v. 171 Th' inchanting sinnewes of his Instrument.
1855 H. W. Longfellow Hiawatha iii. 40 His linden cradle,..Safely bound with reindeer sinews.
1874 H. H. Bancroft Native Races Pacific States I. 56 A sling or net made of woven sinews.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > leaf > [noun] > part or side of > rib or vein
nerve?a1425
ribc1450
vein?c1450
sinew1551
brawn1601
master-vein1658
costa1699
venule1766
pen1773
surculus1775
midrib1793
venule1806
veinlet1807
rachis1830
nervure1842
nerving1854
1551 W. Turner New Herball sig. B j Whose leues are..more depe cut in, towarde the synowe that goeth thorow the myd lefe.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 251 The stemmes whereof, with the synewes of the leaves.., are all redde.
1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 113 Neruus. The nerue, sinew or string of a leafe, as in plantaine.
d. In singular, as a substance or material.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > structural parts > sinew, tendon, or ligament > [noun] > as substance
sinew1825
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. 268 He appeared powerful enough to crush the boy—sinew and bone.
1839 C. Darwin in R. Fitzroy & C. Darwin Narr. Surv. Voy. H.M.S. Adventure & Beagle III. vi. 136 The tassels had been fastened by split sinew.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > nervous system > nerve > [noun]
sinew1398
nervea1400
cordc1400
chord?1541
line1611
lingual1778
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) iii. xvii. 62 The synewe that hyghte neruus obticus, an holow sinew, is hidde in the vtter partye of the brayne.
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 24 From þe brayn comen .vij. peire cordes, & þei ben clepid sensible senewis.
1545 T. Raynald in tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. x The brayne, of whom all the sinewes take their originall.
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 1 No portion of sinewes, which are the immediate organs of sence, is in their [sc. bones] substaunce disseminated.
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate 135 When..the marrow of the backe bone is hurt, there followeth the resolution of the sinewes (which hindereth the function of the sense and motion).
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. i. ii. iii. 23 Nerues or sinewes, are Membranes without, and full of Marrow within.
3. Chiefly plural. Strength, energy, force.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > power > [noun]
i-waldeOE
armOE
craftOE
mightOE
poustiea1275
mound?a1300
powerc1300
force1303
mighta1325
wielda1325
mightiheada1382
mightinessc1390
mightheada1400
mightinga1400
puissance1420
mightfulnessa1425
vallente1475
potence1483
state1488
potencya1500
potestation?c1500
potent1512
puissantness1552
sinew1560
puissancy1562
potentness1581
powerableness1591
powerfulnessc1595
potestatea1600
pollency1623
potentiality1627
potentialness1668
poust1827
mana1843
magnum force1977
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > strengthening or confirmation of immaterial things > [noun] > a source or means of > strength or force behind war, state, nation, etc.
sinew1560
nerves1598
animal spirit1719
stamina1779
brawn1883
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cccxciijv For this intent.., yt ther should no sinewes nor force at all be lefte in all Germany.
1614 R. Carew Excellencie Eng. Tongue in W. Camden Remaines (rev. ed.) 43 The Italian is pleasant but without sinewes as a still fleeting water.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 194 His authoritie hath no sinews.
1722 W. Wollaston Relig. of Nature iii. 49 That they may not be ignorant..what it is that gives sinews to an inference, and makes it just.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. III. 61 He should find..that their arms had not wholly lost their ancient sinew.
1878 J. Morley Carlyle 175 It [Carlylism] is Byronism with thew and sinew.
4.
a. The main strength, mainstay, or chief supporting force, of something.The plural has been more frequently employed than the singular.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun] > that which is important > most important > support
pillara1555
sinew1579
mainstay1604
axisa1625
backbone1849
singular.
plur.1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1343/2 A man may well saie, that chiualrie is the fundation and sinewes of a commonweale.1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. vii. xxxix. 277 The principall authors of the mutinie, who were the sinewes and strength thereof.1624 W. Bedell Copies Certaine Lett. vi. 104 Take away these words, and the sinewes of the sentence are cut.1691 J. Hartcliffe Treat. Virtues p. xiv The Principles of Irreligion do unjoynt the Sinews of all Government.1760 T. Warton Idler 16 Feb. 49 Indolence and Effeminacy..relaxed the Sinews of his Resolution.1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest I. i. 2 The time may come..when death shall dissolve the sinews of avarice.1818 H. Hallam View Europe Middle Ages I. ii. 207 Whenever he thought fit to exert the sinews of his prerogative.1857 J. Ruskin Polit. Econ. Art i. 23 The discipline of the masses has hitherto knit the sinews of battle.1870 J. Bruce Life Gideon xi. 197 It is pre-eminently practical as touching the very soul and sinews of our faith.1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 868 He that sayed first, that money was the sinewe of all thinges, spake it chiefly in my opinion, in respect of the warres.
1589 ‘Pasquill of England’ Returne of Pasquill sig. B Bursting the sinew of peoples obedience.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. iii. 143 The great Achilles whom opinion crownes, The sinnow and the fore-hand of our hoste. View more context for this quotation
1684 Bp. G. Burnet tr. T. More Utopia 151 There must follow upon it a dissolution of all Justice, which is the chief Sinew of Society.
1721 A. Ramsay Prospect of Plenty 210 Thou nervous sinnow of baith war and law!
1880 Christian World 137 The advanced Liberals..supply the bone, the sinew, the muscle, and the fighting power of the party.
b. the sinews of war, i.e. money. †Also in singular (quot. 1598).After Latin nervi belli pecunia (Cicero Phil. v. ii. 5).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > money > [noun]
silverc825
feec870
pennieseOE
wortheOE
mintOE
scata1122
spense?c1225
spendinga1290
sumc1300
gooda1325
moneya1325
cattlec1330
muckc1330
reasona1382
pecunyc1400
gilt1497
argentc1500
gelta1529
Mammon1539
ale silver1541
scruff1559
the sinews of war1560
sterling1565
lour1567
will-do-all1583
shell1591
trasha1592
quinyie1596
brass1597
pecuniary1604
dust1607
nomisma1614
countera1616
cross and pilea1625
gingerbreada1625
rhinoa1628
cash1646
grig1657
spanker1663
cole1673
goree1699
mopus1699
quid1699
ribbin1699
bustle1763
necessary1772
stuff1775
needfula1777
iron1785
(the) Spanish1788
pecuniar1793
kelter1807
dibs1812
steven1812
pewter1814
brad1819
pogue1819
rent1823
stumpy1828
posh1830
L. S. D.1835
rivetc1835
tin1836
mint sauce1839
nobbins1846
ochre1846
dingbat1848
dough1848
cheese1850
California1851
mali1851
ducat1853
pay dirt1853
boodle?1856
dinero1856
scad1856
the shiny1856
spondulicks1857
rust1858
soap1860
sugar1862
coin1874
filthy1876
wampum1876
ooftish1877
shekel1883
oil1885
oof1885
mon1888
Jack1890
sploshc1890
bees and honey1892
spending-brass1896
stiff1897
mazuma1900
mazoom1901
cabbage1903
lettuce1903
Oscar Asche1905
jingle1906
doubloons1908
kale1912
scratch1914
green1917
oscar1917
snow1925
poke1926
oodle1930
potatos1931
bread1935
moolah1936
acker1939
moo1941
lolly1943
loot1943
poppy1943
mazoola1944
dosh1953
bickies1966
lovely jubbly1990
scrilla1994
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cclxxij The Duke of Saxon, although he wanted the Senewes of warre, yet..he battred Gemund.
1581 Compendious Exam. Certayne Ordinary Complaints ii. f. 35v These Coynes and treasure bee not without cause called of wise men..the Synowes of warre.
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres iv. 120 His Indian fleet, bringing the sinew of his warres.
1621 R. Brathwait Natures Embassie 139 We surpasse their state, In power, in riches, sinewes of sharpe warre.
1671 J. Dryden Evening's Love iii. 48 If you had the sinews of warr I am sure you would be flying out.
1751 Affecting Narr. H.M.S. Wager 5 That part of the World, from whence their immense Wealth, the Sinews of War, is chiefly derived.
1827 H. Hallam Constit. Hist. Eng. II. viii. 546 There was one possible..method of obtaining the sinews of war; the convocation of parliament.
1874 F. C. Burnand My Time v. 39 As to the sinews of war, had he not already provided for the improbable adversities of the future?
Compounds
C1.
a. In terms denoting contraction or strain of the sinews, as sinew-bound, sinew-grown, sinew-shrunk(en), sinew-strained.
ΚΠ
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. viii. 224 An old, crazed, sinnowe-shronken, and nigh-dead father.
1655 H. L'Estrange Reign King Charles 105 The King..was sinew~shrunk, and wanted money the sinews of war.
a1657 G. Daniel Poems (1878) II. 23 My Sober Muse can say how it did wound My Sinnew-bound Vnusefull Members.
1686 London Gaz. No. 2163/4 A brown bay Mare.., Sinew-strain'd on the near Leg before.
1705 London Gaz. No. 4125/4 He is a little Sinew-strain'd of the inside of the off Foot before.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Sinner-grown, having a contraction in the sinews, of which sinner is a corruption.
b. Miscellaneous, as sinew-backing, sinew-bruise, sinew-corded, sinew-shrinking, sinew-singer.
ΚΠ
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. i. 333 The sinewe-shrinking Dead-laughing Apium.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 493 The Guide of supplest fingars On (lyuing-dumbe, dead-speaking) Sinnew-singars.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Horse~feeder Strains, Over-Reaches, Sinew-Bruises, and the like.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess v. 119 Supple, sinew-corded, apt at arms.
1896 G. B. Grinnell Story of Indian 151 The nocks were cut, and the sinew backing applied.
C2.
sinew-water n. synovia, joint-oil.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > secretory organs > secretion > synovia > [noun]
jointure-water1599
joint-water1599
sinew-water1658
synovy1684
synovia1732
joint-oil1887
1599 A. M. tr. O. Gaebelkhover Bk. Physicke 312/1 These Playsteres cure all woundes, whether they do thruste, or cut, yea and althoughe the very sinnuewater did issue therout.
1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid i. vi. 26 That corrosive..resisteth forcibly the sinew~water, called the joynt-water.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
sinewv.
/ˈsɪnjuː/, U.S. /ˈsɪnju/ 1. transitive. To run through, tie together, cover over with, or as with, sinews. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > variegation > variegate [verb (transitive)]
chequer?a1400
fleckc1430
engrail1483
shoot1532
begary1538
intermingle1553
enchase1590
diaper1592
sinew1592
motley1602
intercolour1607
damask1610
particolour1610
inshade1613
freta1616
enamel1650
discolour1656
variegatea1728
jasper1799
intershoot1845
patchwork1853
pattern1898
strand1914
harlequin-
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > fact or action of being joined or joining > join (together) [verb (transitive)]
gatherc725
fayOE
samc1000
join1297
conjoinc1374
enjoinc1384
assemble1393
compound1393
sociea1398
annex?c1400
ferec1400
marrowc1400
combinec1440
annectc1450
piece?c1475
combind1477
conjunge1547
associate1578
knit1578
sinew1592
splinter1597
patch1604
accouple1605
interjoina1616
withjoina1627
league1645
contignate1651
to bring on1691
splice1803
pan1884
suture1886
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > cover [verb (transitive)] > with or as with specific other things
clodc1420
pavea1425
foamc1540
overstain1559
thatch1589
sinew1592
to ice over1602
curd1654
overfleece1717
fleece1730
stucco1774
oversmoke1855
bepaper1861
beboulder1862
overflower1876
sack1880
overglass1883
to board over1885
pad1885
lather1917
cobweb1928
1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. D3 v Her gray breast, and her speckled side sayles, all sinnowed with siluer quilles.
1595 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 ii. vi. 91 So shalt thou sinew both these landes togither.
1607 G. Markham Cavelarice vi. 54 After the tree is sinewd, you shall then glewe strong canuase all ouer the woode also.
2. To supply with sinews; to strengthen as by sinews; to nerve, harden. Chiefly figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > strengthening or confirmation of immaterial things > strengthen or confirm immaterial things [verb (transitive)]
strengha1175
strengthc1200
astrengthc1250
strength1340
confirmc1386
affirma1393
forcec1430
renforce?1473
corrobore1485
re-enforcec1485
reinforcec1485
stronga1500
consolidate?a1547
strengthen1546
sinewize1600
sinew1625
confortate1651
nervate1682
scaffolda1693
corroborate1698
substantiate1792
nerve1856
stouten1887
affirm1899
toughen1901
to put stuffing into1938
1625 J. Donne First Serm. King Charles 6 Thy Almightie Arme, sinewed euen with thine owne indignation.
a1631 J. Donne Βιαθανατος (1647) ii. ii. §3 Out of a duty to sinew and strengthen..the Doctrine of our blessed Saviour.
1643 R. Spinkes Serm. Oxf. sig. C3v The kingdome being sinewed and flesht with the addition of so much new strength and force, flourisheth.
1721 T. D'Urfey Grecian Heroine v. i, in New Opera's 145 My Clindor's, and Clorona's Wrongs,..sinew my old Flesh.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. viii. 123 We should then find that wretches, now stuck up for long tortures..might, if properly treated, serve to sinew the state in times of danger.
1852 J. Culross Lazarus Revived 34 Christianity needs something to nerve and sinew it.
1878 J. Todhunter Alcestis 14 Sinew thy heart to hear; for death is dreadful.
1891 F. Tennyson Poems 480 Such might Sinews old custom.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.OE
v.1592