\Sin"ew\, n. [OE. sinewe, senewe, AS. sinu, seonu; akin to
D. zenuw, OHG. senawa, G. sehne, Icel. sin, Sw. sena, Dan.
sene; cf. Skr. sn[=a]va. [root]290.]
1. (Anat.) A tendon or tendonous tissue. See {Tendon}.
2. Muscle; nerve. [R.] --Sir J. Davies.
3. Fig.: That which supplies strength or power.
         The portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage
         dowry.                                --Shak.
         The bodies of men, munition, and money, may justly
         be called the sinews of war.          --Sir W.
                                               Raleigh.
Note: Money alone is often called the sinews of war.

\Sin"ew\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sinewed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Sinewing}.]
To knit together, or make strong with, or as with, sinews.
--Shak.
      Wretches, now stuck up for long tortures . . . might,
      if properly treated, serve to sinew the state in time
      of danger.                               --Goldsmith.