n. [ OE. sinewe, senewe, AS. sinu, seonu; akin to D. zenuw, OHG. senawa, G. sehne, Icel. sin, Sw. sena, Dan. sene; cf. Skr. snāva. √290. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Anat.) A tendon or tendonous tissue. See Tendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Muscle; nerve. [ R. ] Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fig.: That which supplies strength or power. [ 1913 Webster ]

The portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bodies of men, munition, and money, may justly be called the sinews of war. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Money alone is often called the sinews of war. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 state in time of danger. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Furnished with sinews; as, a strong-sinewed youth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: Equipped; strengthened. [ 1913 Webster ]

When he sees
Ourselves well sinewed to our defense. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being sinewy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Sinewy. [ Obs. ] Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no sinews; hence, having no strength or vigor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Sinewy. [ Obs. ] Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Far.) Having the sinews under the belly shrunk by excessive fatigue. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, a sinew or sinews. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sinewy thread my brain lets fall. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Well braced with, or as if with, sinews; nervous; vigorous; strong; firm; tough; as, the sinewy Ajax. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man whose words . . . were so close and sinewy. Hare. [ 1913 Webster ]