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Birdland · 06-07-2002, 12:34 AM

Main Entry: [1]sin·ew
Pronunciation: 'sin-(")yü also 'si-(")nü
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English sinewe, from Old English seono; akin to Old High German senawa sinew, Sanskrit syati he binds
Date: before 12th century
1 : TENDON; especially : one dressed for use as a cord or thread
2 : obsolete : NERVE
3 a : solid resilient strength : POWER <astonishing intellectual sinew and clarity —Reynolds Price> b : the chief supporting force : MAINSTAY — usually used in plural <providing the sinews of better living —Sam Pollock>

Just thought you'd like to consider, that in the "old-fashioned" sense of the word, "sinews" can refer to the binding force of the entire physical body, or even be thought of as "will" or "strength".

So when Tolkien says "sinews" he may have been referring to more than Merry severing someone's Achille's Tendon.

[ June 07, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

06-07-2002, 12:34 AM	#36
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Main Entry: [1]sin·ew Pronunciation: 'sin-(")yü also 'si-(")nü Function: noun Etymology: Middle English sinewe, from Old English seono; akin to Old High German senawa sinew, Sanskrit syati he binds Date: before 12th century 1 : TENDON; especially : one dressed for use as a cord or thread 2 : obsolete : NERVE 3 a : solid resilient strength : POWER <astonishing intellectual sinew and clarity —Reynolds Price> b : the chief supporting force : MAINSTAY — usually used in plural <providing the sinews of better living —Sam Pollock> Just thought you'd like to consider, that in the "old-fashioned" sense of the word, "sinews" can refer to the binding force of the entire physical body, or even be thought of as "will" or "strength". So when Tolkien says "sinews" he may have been referring to more than Merry severing someone's Achille's Tendon. [ June 07, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]