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# sinew

noun (a sinew, sinews)

«sinew» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A tendon: a tough cord in the body that joins a muscle to a bone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sinew/#m1)
2. (sinews, literary) Strength or power: «the sinews of war» (money and supplies needed for war). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sinew/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science, tendons (sinews) let muscles pull on bones so we can move; the Achilles tendon is at the back of the heel. Stories describe strong people with «muscle and sinew». In history, people used animal sinew as thread and bowstrings. Phrases: «strain every sinew» (try as hard as you possibly can).

### Examples

- The sinew joins the muscle to the bone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sinew/#x1)
- He strained every sinew to win the race. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sinew/#x2)
- Native peoples used animal sinew to sew clothes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sinew/#x3)
- The meat was tough and full of sinew. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sinew/#x4)
- The athlete's arms were all muscle and sinew. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sinew/#x5)
- The bowstring was made of twisted sinew. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sinew/#x6)
- It was tough meat, full of sinews, yet it was the only piece he could take without his father's notice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sinew/#x7)

### Note

Countable. Said «SIN-yoo». Adjective: sinewy (lean and strong). «Tendon» is the science word today.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, the sinew of the thigh-vein is the muscle cord Jacob was struck on while wrestling.

**Interpretation.** Tradition forbids Jews to eat this sinew, the gid hanasheh, in memory of Jacob's struggle with the angel.

### Examples

- Therefore the children of Israel eat not the sinew of the thigh-vein which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh, even in the sinew of the thigh-vein. (Torah GEN.32.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sinew/#x1)
- He straineth his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together. (Writings JOB.40.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sinew/#x2)
- Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. (Writings JOB.10.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sinew/#x3)
- In the night my bones are pierced, and fall from me, and my sinews take no rest. (Writings JOB.30.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sinew/#x4)

### Note

Countable. Said «SIN-yoo». Adjective: sinewy (lean and strong). «Tendon» is the science word today.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sinew» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sinew/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sinew» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sinew.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «sinew» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sinew/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sinew» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/sinew.html) on Mova free.