---
title: sinew — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «sinew» in the school dictionary: A tendon: a tough cord in the body that joins a muscle to a bone. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# sinew

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tough cord, Strength, sinew, He, Native peoples, meat · **What happens:** join, need, strain, win, use, sinew · **To what, where:** muscle, sinew, race, animal, clothes, bowstring

<!-- .vabout -->
«sinew» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [sinew in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sinew.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tendon: a tough cord in the body that joins a muscle to a bone.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sinew:m1:1
# text = A tendon: a tough cord in the body that joins a muscle to a bone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tendon	tendon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	tough	tough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	cord	cord	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	body	body	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	11	nsubj	_	_
11	joins	join	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	to	to	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | present | a tough cord in the body | a muscle |  |  |  | to a bone | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent muscle=Patient to bone=Co-Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: sinews, literary — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Strength or power: «the sinews of war» (money and supplies needed for war).

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sinew:m2:1
# text = Strength or power: «the sinews of war» (money and supplies needed for war).
1	Strength	strength	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sinews	sinew	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nsubj	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	supplies	supplies	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	12	conj	_	_
15	needed	need	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	war	war	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | past | Strength or power |  |  |  |  | for war | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sinew joins the muscle to the bone.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sinew:x1:1
# text = The sinew joins the muscle to the bone.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sinew	sinew	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	joins	join	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	bone	bone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | present | the sinew | the muscle |  |  |  | to the bone | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP PP.co-patient»: agent=Agent muscle=Patient to bone=Co-Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He strained every sinew to win the race.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sinew:x2:1
# text = He strained every sinew to win the race.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	strained	strain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	det	_	_
4	sinew	sinew	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **strain** | past | He | every sinew |  |  |  |  | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent sinew=Source |
| 2 | **win** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the race |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent race=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Native peoples used animal sinew to sew clothes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sinew:x3:1
# text = Native peoples used animal sinew to sew clothes.
1	Native	native	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	peoples	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	sinew	sinew	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	sew	sew	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	clothes	clothes	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | Native peoples | animal |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent animal=Theme clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **sinew** | infinitive | Native peoples *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **sew** | to-infinitive | Native peoples *not said here* | clothes |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clothes=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The meat was tough and full of sinew.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sinew:x4:1
# text = The meat was tough and full of sinew.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	tough	tough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sinew	sinew	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the meat |  |  |  |  | tough *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the meat *not said here* |  |  |  |  | of sinew | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The athlete's arms were all muscle and sinew.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sinew:x5:1
# text = The athlete's arms were all muscle and sinew.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	athlete	athlete	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	7	det	_	_
7	muscle	muscle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	sinew	sinew	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the athlete's arms | all muscle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **sinew** | infinitive | the athlete's arms *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bowstring was made of twisted sinew.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sinew:x6:1
# text = The bowstring was made of twisted sinew.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bowstring	bowstring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	made	make	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	twisted	twisted	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	sinew	sinew	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past · passive |  | the bowstring |  |  |  | of twisted sinew | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was tough meat, full of sinews, yet it was the only piece he could take without his father's notice.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:sinew:x7:1
# text = It was tough meat, full of sinews, yet it was the only piece he could take without his father's notice.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	tough	tough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	meat	meat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sinews	sinew	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	yet	yet	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
12	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	only	only	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	piece	piece	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
16	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
17	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	18	aux	_	_
18	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	acl:relcl	_	_
19	without	without	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
20	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	father	father	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	's	's	PART	POS	_	21	case	_	_
23	notice	notice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | It | tough meat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | past | meat | the only piece |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **take** | could | he | the only piece *not said here* |  |  |  | without his father's notice | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent piece=Theme |
| 4 | **notice** |  | his father |  |  |  |  |  | nom notice «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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